Is this the highest rated class ever for a first-time head coach?

[wardle2wade]

It's a fairly unique example, and I can't imagine this has ever happened before.  We have a first year head coach who now has a top-5 class locked up prior to coaching his first ever official game. 

Anyone have any other examples of this?  It's pretty damn impressive. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

It's a fairly unique example, and I can't imagine this has ever happened before.  We have a first year head coach who now has a top-5 class locked up prior to coaching his first ever official game.  

Anyone have any other examples of this?  It's pretty damn impressive.  

Final rankings don't come out until the Summer, nothing is locked up.  Yes, very impressive first class (or any class, for that matter).  I would guess if you go back to the old days, someone like Denny Crum may have done it.  Bill Guthridge?  Steve Lavin had a number of #1 classes, but not sure if he had a top 5 before he started due to how he was thrust into the job so late.

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

Final rankings don't come out until the Summer, nothing is locked up.  Yes, very impressive first class (or any class, for that matter).  I would guess if you go back to the old days, someone like Denny Crum may have done it.  Bill Guthridge?  Steve Lavin had a number of #1 classes, but not sure if he had a top 5 before he started due to how he was thrust into the job so late.

to be clear: I think we're talking first time head coach... Meaning their career record is 0-0. Not just first year at a new school.

Maybe Kevin Ollie?

[TedBaxter]

I can remember when Georgetown hired a 29 year old high school coach named John Thompson out of Washington D.C. St. Anthony's.  Keep in mind that Georgetown was a nothing in college basketball circles and only 6 years earlier had no applicants when it first posted the coaching opening. 

Thompson had a 6-9 high school All-American named Merlin Wilson at St. Anthony's and also signed Wilson's high school teammates Jonathan Smith and Greg Brooks.  They, along with another local kid, Billy Lynn, were the start of Georgetown's success.

[mug644]

How about Josh Pastner's first class at Memphis?

[Pakuni]

Pat Kennedy's first class at DePaul was among the top-ranked in he country in 1998, if not #1.

[Dan]

What about Steve Fisher at Michigan?

[Pakuni]

What about Steve Fisher at Michigan?

The Fab Five was his second recruiting class at Michigan.

[ChicosBailBonds]

to be clear: I think we're talking first time head coach... Meaning their career record is 0-0. Not just first year at a new school.

Maybe Kevin Ollie?

The examples I gave were all first time head coaches

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

We're top 5 now. Probably between 8-15 when all is said and done.

[Benny B]

to be clear: I think we're talking first time head coach... Meaning their career record is 0-0. Not just first year at a new school.

Maybe Kevin Ollie?

Are you referring to K-Oll's 2012 class or 2013 class?

[Dawson Rental]

Kevin O'Neill's first class of six - four HS guys and two transfers - has to be in the discussion.  Three top 100 guys from Wisconsin, including two big men, and a top 125 guy from Illinois, Charles Brakes.  a former top 50 guy, Ron Curry transferring from Arizona, and a former top 100 guy from Milwaukee, Keith Smart, transferring from Purdue.

[Eldon]

Does Larry Bronze at SMU count?  I can't recall exactly, but I'm pretty sure his first class at SMU was top 5 (though it's not his first time as a head coach)

I have long tried to get people on board with calling Larry Brown "Larry Bronze" as a result of the embarrassing showing at the 04 olympics.  It never stuck, but I have yet to relent.  Bronze medal, smh. (I also called LeBron, "LeBronze," for a while but that too never stuck, partly because of the redeem team in 08)

[Nukem2]

Does Larry Bronze at SMU count?  I can't recall exactly, but I'm pretty sure his first class at SMU was top 5 (though it's not his first time as a head coach)

I have long tried to get people on board with calling Larry Brown "Larry Bronze" as a result of the embarrassing showing at the 04 olympics.  It never stuck, but I have yet to relent.  Bronze medal, smh. (I also called LeBron, "LeBronze," for a while but that too never stuck, partly because of the redeem team in 08)

Brown was at UCLA and Kansas previously.

[Johnny B]

Great class None the less.