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The 2025 Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament showcases a notable representation of Black head coaches, here's a list of the coaches in the Men's Basketball Tournament for you to show your support for.
Out of the 68 teams competing in the 2025 tournament, 15 are led by Black head coaches.
This accounts for approximately 22% of the total field.
The coaches and their respective teams are:
- Kelvin Sampson – University of Houston
- Shaka Smart – Marquette University
- Rodney Terry – University of Texas
- Penny Hardaway – University of Memphis
- Dennis Gates – University of Missouri
- Hubert Davis - University of North Carolina (UNC)
- Ritchie McKay – Liberty University
- James Jones – Yale University
- Takayo Siddle – University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW)
- Travis DeCuire – University of Montana
- Dwight Perry, Jr. – Wofford College
- Chris Crutchfield – University of Nebraska Omaha
- Robert Jones – Norfolk State University
- Duane Simpkins – American University
- Tony Madlock – Alabama State University
Overall Division I Landscape
As of the 2024–25 season, there are 362 men's college basketball programs in NCAA Division I. With 15 Black head coaches in the tournament, they represent about 4.1% of all Division I head coaches. This indicates that Black head coaches are more prominently featured in the tournament compared to their overall representation.
Historical Context: The number of Black head coaches has grown by 31% over the past decade, with 2,186 serving across all divisions in the 2023–24 season. NCAA.com This upward trend signifies progress in diversifying the equity within coaching staffs within collegiate basketball which is represented by 52% of black players.
IV. Broader Implications
The increased visibility of Black head coaches in the 2025 tournament highlights progress in leadership and normalizing the acceptance of coaches in a showcasing merit in the face of the overall backlash over DEI. Coaches are judged on their ability to win, and in basketball the most important metric is first, making the tournament, and second winning in the tournament.
Both require winning at a high level and under pressure. You cannot fake winning, and in the high stakes environment of NCAA TV money and contracts and NIL. We all know the immense pressure of coaching and being under the microscope while carrying the weight of your race on your shoulders. Salute to the coaches who are showcasing excellence on the highest stage.
Overall, the 2025 Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament reflects the advancements and excellence of Black coaches as a whole. It is imperative that these coaches are supported and applauded for being great examples for the young men they are coaching and who also aspire to someday enter the coaching ranks.
