College basketball’s next coaching stars: 12 names to know before March

Come March, as happens every year during that wonderful month, stars will be born across men’s college basketball.

One upset win or buzzer-beater can turn a previously anonymous group of players into national celebrities overnight. And for the coach leading them, one magical March run can be career-changing, too.

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Improbable Final Four runs introduced much of the country to coaches such as Brad Stevens, Shaka Smart and Dusty May, who went on to become prominent figures in the sport. But a coach doesn’t have to reach college basketball’s biggest stage to land on the radar of fans and athletic directors. Sometimes, simply reaching the NCAA Tournament or winning at a place where few have succeeded before can be enough.

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So, who are the next coaching stars roaming college basketball sidelines across the country? Who will lead the next Cinderella run in March and suddenly become a candidate for seemingly every job vacancy?

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Men’s college basketball preseason Top 25 rankings for 2026-27

25 — Brigham Young Cougars (23-12 in 2025-26, lost in first round of NCAA Tournament)

(William Purnell, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)

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Men’s college basketball preseason Top 25 rankings for 2026-27

25 — Brigham Young Cougars (23-12 in 2025-26, lost in first round of NCAA Tournament)

(William Purnell, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)

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Men’s college basketball preseason Top 25 rankings for 2026-27

24 — Purdue Boilermakers (30-9 in 2025-26, lost in Elite Eight of NCAA Tournament)

(Michael Hickey, Getty Images)

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Men’s college basketball preseason Top 25 rankings for 2026-27

23 — Kentucky Wildcats (22-14 in 2025-26, lost in second round of NCAA Tournament)

(Jordan Prather, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)

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Men’s college basketball preseason Top 25 rankings for 2026-27

22 — Southern California Trojans…

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Publish date : 2026-11-02 10:15:00

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