Oct. 11, 2010

(Note: Research done with the help of SIDs of both teams and conferences throughout the nation. If we missed someone, let us know.)

Herb Sendek is the 47-year old Sun Devil head coach with 17 years of head coaching experience. He earned his first job at age 30 at Miami of Ohio, which has allowed him to compile the best list of former assistant coaches turned current D-I head coaches in the nation. Currently there are eight former Coach Sendek assistants leading programs, with Ben Braun (Rice), Jim Calhoun (UCONN) and Rick Pitino (Louisville) each producing six current head coaches.

The most recent Coach Sendek promotion was 12-year sidekick Mark Phelps, who earned the Drake spot in the spring of 2008 after serving for 10 years on the staff at NC State and for two years at ASU. Former NC State sidekick John Groce also earned the Ohio University position in the spring of 2008.

The others are Jim Christian, formerly at Kent State and now at TCU (Miami assistant from 1994-96), Charlie Coles at Miami of Ohio (Miami assistant from 1994-96), Larry Hunter at Western Carolina (NC State assistant from 2001-05), Ron Hunter of IUPUI (Miami assistant from 1993-94), Ohio State's Thad Matta (Miami assistant in 1994-95) and Arizona's Sean Miller (assistant at both Miami from 1993-95 and at NC State from 1996-2000).

NATION'S TOP COACHING TREES
COACH SENDEK, ARIZONA STATE (8): Jim Christian, TCU; Charlie Coles, Miami of Ohio; John Groce, Ohio; Larry Hunter, Western Carolina; Ron Hunter, IUPUI; Thad Matta, Ohio State; Sean Miller, Arizona; Mark Phelps, Drake

BEN BRAUN, RICE (6): Keith Dambrot, Akron; Billy Kennedy, Murray State; George Nessman, San Jose State; Joe Pasternack, New Orleans; Charles E. Ramsey, Eastern Michigan; Gary Waters, Cleveland State

JIM CALHOUN, UCONN (6): Howie Dickenman, Central Connecticut State; Karl Hobbs, George Washington; Mike Jarvis, Florida Atlantic; Tom Moore, Quinnipiac; Steve Pikiell, Stony Brook; Ted Woodward, Maine

JOHN CALIPARI, KENTUCKY (6): Tony Barbee, UTEP; Bruiser Flint, Drexel; Derek Kellogg, UMASS; Chuck Martin, Marist; Josh Pastner, Memphis; Steve Roccaforte, Lamar

RICK PITINO, LOUISVILLE (6): Mick Cronin, Cincinnati; Billy Donovan, Florida; Marvin Menzies, New Mexico State; Herb Sendek, Arizona State; Tubby Smith, Minnesota; Kevin Willard, Seton Hall

TOM IZZO, MICHIGAN STATE (5): Jim Boylen, Utah; Tom Crean, Indiana; Brian Gregory, Dayton; Stan Heath, South Florida; Doug Wojcik, Tulsa

MIKE MONTGOMERY, CALIFORNIA (5): Jeff Jackson, Furman; Trent Johnson, LSU; Stew Morill, Utah State; Eric Reveno, Portland; Blaine Taylor, Old Dominion

TRENT JOHNSON, LSU (4): David Carter, Nevada; Mark Fox, Georgia; Eric Reveno, Portland; Keith Richard, Louisiana-Monroe

STEW MORRILL, UTAH STATE (4): Jeff Jackson, Furman; Randy Rahe, Weber State; Blaine Taylor, Old Dominion; Don Verlin, Idaho

ASSISTANTS UNDER COACH SENDEK
MIAMI (OHIO)
1993-1994: Ron Hunter, Dave Manzer, Sean Miller
1994-1995: Charlie Coles, Thad Matta, Sean Miller
1995-1996: Brian Blaney, Jim Christian, Charlie Coles

NC STATE
1996-1997: John Groce, Larry Harris, Sean Miller
1997-1998: John Groce, Larry Harris, Sean Miller
1998-1999: John Groce, Larry Harris, Sean Miller
1999-2000: John Groce, Larry Harris, Sean Miller
2000-2001: Larry Harris, Sean Miller, Mark Phelps
2001-2002: Larry Harris, Larry Hunter, Mark Phelps
2002-2003: Larry Harris, Larry Hunter, Mark Phelps
2003-2004: Larry Harris, Larry Hunter, Mark Phelps
2004-2005: Larry Harris, Larry Hunter, Mark Phelps
2005-2006: Larry Harris, Mark Phelps, Archie Miller

ARIZONA STATE
2006-2007: Mark Phelps, Archie Miller, Dedrique Taylor
2007-2008: Mark Phelps, Dedrique Taylor, Scott Pera
2008-2009: Dedrique Taylor, Scott Pera, Lamont Smith
2009-2010: Dedrique Taylor, Scott Pera, Lamont Smith