There’s an old saying that experience is the best teacher. When NCAA Men’s Tournament fans take a look at the head coaches leading teams into the Sweet 16, they’re going to find a few old goats in the mix.
These coaches are not letting age define them. They’ve been through the wars and now share those experiences with young players.
The Oldest College Basketball Coaches Leading Teams in the Sweet 16
If you’re wondering who the oldest college basketball coaches are right now, then it all starts with St. John’s Red Storm head coach Rick Pitino.
Rick Pitino Aims for a Deep Run with St. John’s
Pitino, who always dresses immaculately when roaming along the sidelines, is 73 years old. On Sunday, Pitino watched Dylan Darling drive to the basket for a buzzer-beating layup as the No. 5-seeded Red Storm ousted No. 4-seed Kansas 67-65. It was an East Region second-round game.
That puts St. John’s in the Sweet 16. But Pitino and the Red Storm will now face overall No. 1-seed Duke in a Sweet 16 matchup.
In his college basketball career, Pitino has won national championships at Kentucky and Louisville. Now, St. John’s fans are going to see if Pitino can turn the trick one more time for the Red Storm.
Rick Barnes Has Tennessee Back in the Sweet 16
Barnes, at 71, has the Volunteers in the Sweet 16, too. Tennessee, a No. 6 seed, will go up against No. 2-seeded Iowa State, which knocked off Kentucky 82-63 to get there.
But this is about Barnes. He’s reached 1 Final Four in his career.
Before getting to Tennessee, though, Barnes coached the Texas Longhorns for 17 seasons. He reached his lone Final Four with the Longhorns but left the school following the 2014-15 season.
That’s OK. Barnes’ age isn’t a factor as he’s been outstanding at Tennessee.
Tom Izzo and Michigan State Are a March Staple
Izzo is showing zero signs of slowing down at 71. Izzo has led the Spartans to eight Final Four showings.
In his tenure at Michigan State, Izzo has 1 NCAA championship to his credit back in 2000. For NCAA basketball fans who watch the Spartans play, Izzo is always a fireball of energy. He’s not afraid to get in his players’ faces one bit.
Guess who’s also in the Sweet 16? Yep, the No. 3-seeded Spartans, who beat the No. 6-seeded Louisville Cardinals 77-69.
Kelvin Sampson Keeps Houston in Title Contention
Sampson has been to 2 Final Fours in his long college basketball career. He’s been around the block a few times in the college game.
Besides coaching the Cougars, Sampson has made stops at Washington State, Oklahoma, and Indiana. That’s pretty good for a 70-year-old head coach.
In fact, Sampson’s Sooners reached the Final Four back in 2002. He went to Indiana in 2006 but left in 2008 following recruiting violations.
After a little time in the NBA, Sampson returned to the college game at Houston. In 2021, Sampson led the Cougars to a Final Four appearance.
Is this another old coach who led his team to the Sweet 16? You better believe it.
The No. 2-seeded Cougars defeated No. 10-seeded Texas A&M 88-57. Next up for Houston is No. 3-seeded Illinois.
John Calipari Sparks a Razorbacks Renaissance at Arkansas
At 67 years old, Calipari is having a renaissance with the Razorbacks. Before departing the Kentucky program for a change of scenery in Fayetteville, Ark., Calipari won a national championship with the Wildcats in 2012.
Calipari has led teams to 6 Final Fours. He put up a 410-123 record at Kentucky, but his time there started to wear thin with the Kentucky faithful.
So, he’s now at Arkansas. The No. 4-seeded Razorbacks beat upstart No. 12-seed High Point 94-88 to reach the Sweet 16.
In addition to these five head coaches, Oregon’s Dana Altman is 67, too.
So, these older college basketball coaches keep turning back the clock with their teams. Age is not a factor when it comes to having experience on the sidelines.
