Coaching Trees: From Naismith to Popovich, Spoelstra, and Self in 4 Steps

The lineage of basketball coaches is truly remarkable. We can trace their roots along certain branches back to the very origin of the game itself. Each coach in this lineage has built upon the knowledge imparted by their predecessors. While they may have refined and evolved their playbooks over time, one cannot overlook the enduring influence of interpersonal traits acquired during their formative years. Whether acquired through observation or personal coaching experiences, we believe these coaches have assimilated invaluable insights into dealing with individuals and effectively managing a basketball program. Undoubtedly, there were specific tricks of the trade that were passed down through the coaching lineage.

These six coaching descendants within the lineage collectively boast an impressive total of 13 NBA Championships and 7 NCAA Championships. Allen, a pivotal figure in this lineage, earned 3 National Championships prior to the NCAA.

Remarkably, a concise four-step connection leads from James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, to three of the most accomplished coaches of this century: Gregg Popovich, Bill Self, and Erik Spoelstra. Together, they have secured a remarkable 7 NBA Championships and 2 NCAA Championships. Noteworthy additions to this coaching legacy include Steve Kerr, who played under Popovich, and Roy Williams on a separate branch, contributing an additional 4 NBA titles and 3 NCAA titles. The intricate network extends further with the inclusion of coaches John Calipari through Larry Brown.

An intriguing historical footnote is the 1986 Kansas Staff led by Larry Brown, which featured Gregg Popovich, Bill Self, Alvin Gentry, and RC Buford. John Calipari had recently departed the previous season, further underscoring the interconnected nature of this coaching tree. The depth and success of this lineage, stemming almost directly from the game’s inventor, James Naismith, make it a truly exceptional and remarkable chapter in the history of basketball coaching.

Dr. James Naismith

The “Father of Basketball,” who initiated the sport and established its foundational principles, was a trained medical doctor. His background in physiology, nutrition, and psychology, acquired through medical training, positioned him as an ideal early pioneer in the sport. It is evident that the knowledge he gained contributed significantly to the success of his coaching descendants, who excelled in understanding and implementing training practices and nutrition within the context of their era.

Among his notable protégés, Phog Allen stands out as a pivotal figure. Allen, who played for and was encouraged to pursue a medical degree by the “Father of Basketball,” would go on to embody and propagate many of the same traits that laid the foundation for success in coaching. Regarded as the “Father of Coaching” himself, Allen mentored two iconic figures in college basketball, Adolph Rupp and Dean Smith. Both Rupp and Smith became two of the most successful college basketball coaches in history, each cultivating coaching trees that included numerous all-time greats. The profound impact of the “Father of Basketball” and his lineage, particularly through the coaching legacy of Phog Allen, underscores the enduring influence of early pioneers in shaping the landscape of basketball coaching.

Another Branch of the Coaching Tree

Rick Pitino, the inaugural assistant hired by Jim Boeheim at Syracuse, played a pivotal role in shaping one of the most impressive coaching trees in modern basketball. Pitino’s coaching lineage spans prominent institutions such as Kentucky, Louisville, and the Boston Celtics, and features notable figures like Billy Donovan, Tubby Smith, Frank Vogel who all have NBA or NCAA championships as head coaches in his lineage.

Remarkably, even within the context of a more contemporary coaching tree, the roots of Boeheim’s lineage can be traced back to the coaching tree of Adolph Rupp. The intricate connection unfolds through Paul McBrayer, who both played for and was an assistant under Rupp for a 9 seasons. McBrayer, during his coaching tenure at Eastern Kentucky, mentored Fred B. Lewis. Lewis, in turn, coached Jim Boeheim during his time at Syracuse. The interconnectedness of coaching trees and the profound influence of great mentors in the history of basketball coaching.

Others

The Military Lineage

An influential coaching lineage, which we have designated as the Military Lineage, is embodied by the connection between, Bob Knight, Mike Krzyzewski and Fred Taylor. It’s also notable that Dean Smith was a lieutenant in the Air Force, and Air Force would be his first college assistant job. It’s likely he as well picked up some military principles in which he incorporated into his coaching. Gregg Popovich played at Air Force a few years after Smith left and coached there for 6 seasons too.

Bob Knight, a National Championship winner while playing for Fred Taylor at Ohio State, adds a unique layer to this lineage. Notably, Taylor, a former Major League Baseball player and Army-Air Force veteran at the close of World War II, transitioned to basketball while in the military. Despite having no prior basketball experience until the Army, Taylor played basketball at Ohio State on a team that went to the Final Four before ultimately becoming a successful coach who secured a national championship and made four Final Four appearances.

Bob Knight, after being coached by a veteran in Taylor enlisted in the Army during the Vietnam War era, where he obtained valuable experience. His coaching journey began at West Point, where he assumed an assistant coaching and then the head coaching job at the young age of 24. Knight would later coach Mike Krzyzewski on one of his Army teams, establishing a connection that would prove pivotal in the subsequent development of the Military Lineage.

Mike Krzyzewski, in his coaching career, would further contribute to this lineage by coaching at Army and serving under Knight at Indiana. The combined experiences of Taylor, Knight, and Krzyzewski, all connected through their military backgrounds, infused elements of discipline and principles acquired from their time at military academies. This unique blend of military ethos and coaching expertise has been a driving force behind the collective success of the three, yielding a remarkable 9 NCAA Championships and 21 Final Four appearances over the past six decades.

Taylor was coached by Tippy Dye at Ohio State who would coach Ohio State one Final Four, the team Taylor was a part of. Dye was coached by Harold Olsen who would coach in 4 Final Fours at Ohio State. Dye would also go on to have success as the Athletic Director of Nebraska building their football program into a national power.

Henry Iba

Henry Iba, a distinguished coach, secured 2 national championships in the 1940s. His coaching tree extended to notable figures such as Don Haskins, who clinched a title in the 1960s with Nolan Richardson on his team, as well as Eddie Sutton, amassing over 800 wins and coaching in 3 Final Fours. The influence of Iba’s coaching legacy further extended to Gene Keady and Bill Self, both of whom coached under Sutton. 

On another distinct branch of Henry Iba’s coaching tree is Bud Milikan, who not only played for Iba but also served as an assistant during two national championships. Milikan later assumed the head coaching position at Maryland, where Tom Davis worked under him, and Gary Williams played for him and then later coached under Davis. The coaching lineage further extends as Bruce Pearl coached under Tom Davis, while Fran Dunphy and Rick Barnes gained coaching experience under Gary Williams. This interconnected coaching network highlights the continuous influence and contributions passed down through various generations of coaches within the basketball community.

Wooden/Crum

John Wooden took basketball from the hotbed of the Midwest to UCLA in the late 1940’s and would win 10 national titles. He played under Hall of Famer coach Piggy Lambert at Purdue. Lambert played for Ralph Jones. Jones also had success as a college football and the NFL. Denny Crum notably would play for as well as coach under John Wooden. He would go on too win 2 National Titles himself.

Honorable Mentions

Rollie Massimiono and Jay Wright combined for 3 national titles at Villanova while Heathcoact and Izzo won 2 at Michigan State. Lefty Driesell has a strong coaching tree of decedents through Terry Holland who coached Rick Carlisle, and had assistants like Jim Larrañaga and Dave Odom.