The 10 best coaches in Big Ten men’s basketball history include some of the most influential figures in the sport. Recently, Michigan State’s Tom Izzo made headlines by breaking Bob Knight’s long-held record for the most conference wins in Big Ten history, achieving his 354th victory in a 79-65 win against Illinois. With a total of 727 wins, Izzo stands as the all-time leader for Big Ten head coaches, showcasing his remarkable 30-season tenure at Michigan State.
Izzo’s accomplishment reignites the debate about the greatest coach in Big Ten history. As fans and analysts reflect on the legacies of these coaching legends, it becomes essential to rank the top 10 coaches who have shaped the conference.
10 best coaches in Big Ten men’s basketball history
10. Purdue’s Ward Lambert
Ward Lambert played a pivotal role in establishing Purdue as a powerhouse in college basketball when he took the head coaching position in 1916. After the school joined the Big Ten in 1918, Lambert led the Boilermakers to 11 conference championships during his 20-year tenure from 1920 to 1940, a record that remains tied for the most by any coach in Big Ten history.
Although Lambert coached for 28 seasons, his win totals reflect a different era, as the Big Ten was not fully established and the NCAA Tournament was only created later in his career. Nevertheless, he ranks sixth all-time in total Big Ten wins (371) and fifth in conference victories (228) as of February 2025.
9. Illinois’ Lou Henson
Lou Henson consistently positioned Illinois as a contender for Big Ten titles throughout his 21 seasons (1975-96) as the Fighting Illini’s head coach. During a remarkable 15-year stretch from 1980 to 1995, Illinois achieved 13 top-five finishes in the conference, clinching the regular-season championship in 1984. Henson’s teams appeared in the NCAA Tournament 12 times during this period, advancing to the Sweet 16 four times and reaching the Final Four once.
His impressive consistency places Henson high on the all-time wins list in the Big Ten. Upon his departure from Illinois, he ranked second in overall wins (421) and third in conference wins (214). As of February 2025, he holds sixth and fifth positions in those categories, respectively.
Bo Ryan took over as Wisconsin’s head coach a year after the Badgers reached the Final Four, and he quickly raised the bar for success in Madison. He led Wisconsin to a surprising Big Ten regular-season title in the 2001-02 season. Under his leadership, the Badgers consistently excelled, making the NCAA Tournament and finishing in the top five in conference play for each of the 15 full seasons Ryan coached.
Ryan concluded his tenure in Madison with 364 total wins, which is tied for the seventh-most in Big Ten history, and 172 conference victories, placing him 10th. As of February 2025, his 73.1 winning percentage remains the best among coaches who have led at least 110 games in a Big Ten school.
Prior to Tom Izzo’s era, Jud Heathcote elevated Michigan State’s reputation as a respected program during his 19 seasons (1976-95) as head coach. Heathcote’s most notable achievement was recruiting Magic Johnson, leading the Spartans to their first national championship in 1979 and securing two Big Ten titles during their time together.
After some challenging seasons in the early 1980s, Heathcote turned things around, guiding Michigan State to nine top-five finishes in his last 12 seasons, including another regular-season title in 1990. Upon retiring in 1995, he ranked fifth in total wins for a Big Ten coach (336) and held the eighth most conference victories (182) as of February 2025.
6. Purdue’s Matt Painter
Matt Painter has been a steady force for Purdue over his two decades as head coach. His tenure has been marked by consistent success, with Painter clinching a winning season for the 17th time in 20 years. As of February 2025, Purdue has made the NCAA Tournament 15 times under his guidance, winning at least one game in 11 of those appearances and making the Sweet 16 seven times, the Elite Eight twice, and reaching the Final Four once.
Painter stands as a formidable contender to Izzo’s records. He ranks fourth in total wins (466) and conference victories (237) in Big Ten history. His five Big Ten Coach of the Year awards are the second-most in the conference’s history.
5. Purdue’s Gene Keady
Gene Keady revitalized Purdue’s basketball program after a period of decline following Lambert’s retirement. Hired in 1980, Keady led the Boilermakers to six Big Ten regular-season titles over a dominant 12-year stretch, consistently challenging Indiana during its peak years. Keady’s teams finished outside the top five in the standings only four times during his 25 seasons, providing a rare consistency in the conference.
Under Keady’s leadership, Purdue participated in the NCAA Tournament 16 times between 1982 and 2000, reaching the Elite Eight twice and the Sweet 16 five times. Even without a Final Four appearance, Keady concluded his tenure in 2005 with 512 total wins and 265 conference victories, ranking third among Big Ten coaches. His seven Big Ten Coach of the Year awards remain the most in history.
Fred Taylor’s time as Ohio State’s head coach included some peak seasons, highlighted by a Final Four appearance in 1968 and an Elite Eight run in 1971. Although his tenure ended with a few less impressive seasons in 1976, Taylor retired with the fourth-most total wins for a Big Ten coach (297) and ranks 12th on the all-time Big Ten total wins list as of February 2025. His seven regular-season titles are the seventh-most in conference history.
3. Indiana’s Branch McCracken
Branch McCracken transformed Indiana into a blue blood program during his nearly 30-year tenure as head coach. In his second season, he led the Hoosiers to a national championship in 1940, establishing Indiana as a Big Ten powerhouse. After several second-place finishes, McCracken finally captured his first Big Ten title in the 1952-53 season, guiding Indiana to a remarkable 17-1 record in conference play that year, followed by a second national championship.
At the time of his departure in 1965, McCracken ranked second in both total wins (364) and conference victories (210) in Big Ten history. As of February 2025, he is tied for seventh in total wins and seventh in conference wins.
2. Michigan State’s Tom Izzo
1. Indiana’s Bob Knight
Tom Izzo’s recent achievement of surpassing Bob Knight for the most conference wins in Big Ten history adds another layer to the ongoing discussion about the greatest coach in the conference’s history. Knight’s legacy is undeniably strong, with the Hoosiers making the NCAA Tournament 25 times in 29 seasons under his leadership (1971-2000).
Knight’s March success is unmatched, as he led Indiana to three national titles, the most by any Big Ten coach, including the last perfect season in Division I in 1975-76 (32-0). His teams also reached the Final Four twice, with eight Elite Eight appearances and 13 Sweet 16 trips.
In conference play, Knight’s dominance is evident. With 11 regular-season Big Ten titles, he is tied for the most in conference history, finishing outside the top five on just three occasions. His tenure ended controversially in 2000, but he previously held the records for total wins (727) and conference victories (353) in Big Ten history.
Honorable mentions:
- Wisconsin’s Harold “Bud” Foster
- Illinois’ Harry Combes
