The 2024-2025 Big 12 basketball season is set to be another incredible one. While we wait for the conference slate to come out, slowly, but surely non-conference schedules are coming out, giving us hope that round ball will be here before you know it. The Big 12 is well-known for having some of the best programs and coaches in college basketball. This year, there are some veteran coaches mixed with some newcomers.
Veteran Head Coaches Mixed with Newcomers for 2024-2025 Big 12 Basketball
Let’s take a look at all the coaches and their tenures:
Bill Self, Kansas Jayhawks
Bill Self is the king of Big 12 basketball. With the Kansas Jayhawks now for 21 seasons, he recently surpassed 600 wins at Kansas and has 810 wins overall. He has been to the NCAA Tournament 19 times as a Jayhawk, made the Final Four three times, and won two national titles. Self’s Jayhawks are one of the favorites to win it again this season as well.
Scott Drew, Baylor Bears
Scott Drew is the other guy in the Big 12 with a national title. Drew was at Valparaiso before coming to Baylor. He has completely turned the program around during that time. Many do not realize, he is also in his 21st year at Baylor. His numbers are not quite as good as Self’s, but he still has 446 wins overall, and 189 in conference play. He has been to the dance 12 times. The lone time Drew made the Final Four with Baylor, they won the title.
Tad Boyle, Colorado Buffaloes
When discussing veteran head coaches Tad Boyle is on the list. Boyle came to Colorado from Northern Colorado and has now been with the Buffaloes for 14 seasons. He is two wins away from 300 in his career with Colorado. In the Big 12, he is 8-8, and we will see how that goes now that they are back. Boyle has been to the NCAA Tournament six times in his career but has yet to reach the Final Four.
Kelvin Sampson, Houston Cougars
The long-time basketball coach was an assistant with the Houston Rockets before taking over for the Cougars. Kelvin Sampson reached the Final Four for the first time recently but still has not cut down the nets in April. He has reached the NCAA Tournament six times in his career and needs just 36 more wins to reach 300 with Houston. This will be his 11th season, and second in the Big 12. Last season they won the conference regular season title, going 15-3.
Bobby Hurley, Arizona State Sun Devils
The brother of back-to-back national champion basketball coach at UConn, Dan Hurley. Bobby Hurley is starting his 9th season at Arizona State after coming over from Buffalo. Hurley is 155-131 in his time with the Sun Devils. He has reached the NCAA Tournament three times and is seeking to get the Sun Devils back in their first season in the Big 12.
Johnny Dawkins, Central Florida Knights
Johnny Dawkins is also starting his 9th season as the head coach. Central Florida has gone 148-103 in his nine seasons. Last year, he went 7-11 in Big 12 play. Surprisingly, the Knights have made the NCAA tournament just one time under Dawkins.
Jamie Dixon, TCU Horned Frogs
The former Pittsburgh Panthers headman is starting his 9th season in Fort Worth. Dixon, known as one of the brightest minds in college basketball has 160 wins in 270 games with the Horned Frogs. Dixon has reached the NCAA Tournament in four of those nine seasons. Dixon is 21 games under .500 in conference play since coming to the Big 12.
Craig Smith, Utah Utes
The Aggies will be entering the Big 12 for the first time. Smith will be starting his fourth season at Utah. He came over from state rival Utah State. He has gone 50-50 in three seasons and is seeking his first trip to the big dance.
Wes Miller, Cincinnati Bearcats
Another new member to the Big 12 last season, the Cincinnati Bearcats went 7-11 in league play under Miller. This is going to be his fourth season as the head man. He is 63-43 during that time. He was at UNC Greensboro before taking over for the Bearcats.
Tommy Lloyd, Arizona Wildcats
Tommy Lloyd was an assistant for Mark Few at Gonzaga before getting the head job at Arizona. He has been impressive with the Wildcats. All three seasons, they have reached the NCAA Tournament, and he has won 88 out of 108 games. This will be the first season in the Big 12, but preseason projections have them among the best teams.
T.J. Otzelberger, Iowa State Cyclones
The big man came over from UNLV and has done great things in Ames. Iowa State has reached the NCAA Tournament in all three seasons he has been there so far. T.J. Otzelberger has won 70 of 105 games, and 29 out of 54 Big 12 games so far in his career. The Cyclones lost in the Sweet 16 to Illinois a season ago.
Jerome Tang, Kansas State Wildcats
Jerome Tang is no stranger to the Big 12. He was an assistant with Scott Drew before getting the job in Manhattan. Tang is emotional and fiery but has been successful. This will be his third season at Kansas State, and he is seeking his second NCAA Tournament appearance. Notably, Tang led Kansas State to an Elite Eight appearance in 2023. Tang has won 45 out of 70 games as the head coach of Kansas State, and they have gone 19-17 during Big 12 play.
Grant McCasland, Texas Tech Red Raiders
With all the veteran head coaches, you got the inexperienced Grant McCasland. His first season at Texas Tech saw them win 23 games and reach the NCAA Tournament as 6-seed. They went 11-7 in league play, which was good enough. The fans in Lubbock are excited about the former North Texas headman.
Steve Lutz, Oklahoma State Cowboys
Steve Lutz saw plenty of success at Western Kentucky, and now he will bring it to Stillwater. The Cowboys have some work to do in order to get back in the mix of talented Big 12 teams. Nevertheless, the tradition is there.
Kevin Young, Brigham Young Cougars
Kevin Young is taking over at Brigham Young after being an assistant with the Phoenix Suns. He takes over for Mark Pope, who agreed to be the next coach at Kentucky back in April. BYU is entering its second season in the Big 12.
Darian DeVries, West Virginia Mountaineers
Darian DeVries went 150-55 as the head coach of the Drake Bulldogs. He won two Missouri Valley Conference tournaments in a row. Now, he brings his coaching pedigree, and his talented son Tucker to the Big 12. It will be a new animal in the tough conference, but the 49-year-old seems to be ready for the challenge.
The million-dollar question is, when 2025-2026 arrives, how many of these guys will still be holding their post? Check back one year from today!
