The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament is one of the most prestigious and exciting sporting events in the United States. Every March, the best college basketball teams in the country compete for the national championship. Many prominent players and coaches have won the tournament as both a player and a coach. Here, we explore the stories of some of the most successful figures in college basketball history.
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Bob Knight: Player and Coach
Bob Knight, the legendary coach of the Indiana Hoosiers, is perhaps the most famous coach to have won the NCAA tournament both as a player and a coach. As a player, Knight was part of the Ohio State Buckeyes team that won the 1960 NCAA tournament. He then went on to coach the Hoosiers to three NCAA championships in 1976, 1981, and 1987. Knight is the only coach in NCAA history to have won three NCAA championships as a head coach and an NCAA championship as a player.
John Wooden: Player and Coach
John Wooden, the iconic coach of the UCLA Bruins, is widely considered to be the greatest college basketball coach of all time. As a player, Wooden was part of the Purdue Boilermakers team that won the 1932 NCAA tournament. He then went on to coach the Bruins to an unprecedented 10 NCAA championships in 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1975. Wooden is the only coach in NCAA history to have won 10 NCAA championships.
Dean Smith: Player and Coach
Dean Smith, the legendary coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels, is another prominent figure in college basketball history to have won the tournament both as a player and a coach. As a player, Smith was part of the Kansas Jayhawks team that won the 1952 NCAA tournament. He then went on to coach the Tar Heels to two NCAA championships in 1982 and 1993. Smith is the only coach in NCAA history to have won two NCAA championships as a head coach and an NCAA championship as a player.
Mike Krzyzewski: Player and Coach
Mike Krzyzewski, the current coach of the Duke Blue Devils, is the most successful active coach in NCAA history. As a player, Krzyzewski was part of the Army Cadets team that won the 1964 NCAA tournament. He then went on to coach the Blue Devils to five NCAA championships in 1991, 1992, 2001, 2010, and 2015. Krzyzewski is the only coach in NCAA history to have won five NCAA championships as a head coach and an NCAA championship as a player.
Billy Donovan: Player and Coach
Billy Donovan, the former coach of the Florida Gators, is another prominent figure in college basketball history to have won the tournament both as a player and a coach. As a player, Donovan was part of the Providence Friars team that won the 1987 NCAA tournament. He then went on to coach the Gators to two NCAA championships in 2006 and 2007. Donovan is the only coach in NCAA history to have won two NCAA championships as a head coach and an NCAA championship as a player.
Conclusion
The NCAA tournament is one of the most prestigious and exciting sporting events in the United States. Many prominent players and coaches have won the tournament as both a player and a coach. Bob Knight, John Wooden, Dean Smith, Mike Krzyzewski, and Billy Donovan are some of the most successful figures in college basketball history to have achieved this feat.