Tubby Smith

Smith made history as the first Black head coach at Kentucky and won the 1998 national championship in his very first season — one of the most remarkable debuts in coaching history. Over 10 seasons (1997–2007), he compiled a 263-83 record with five SEC regular season titles and never posted a losing record. The 1998 title run featured Jeff Sheppard's tournament MVP performance, beating Stanford, Duke, and Utah in the Final Four. His teams were consistent contenders, reaching the Elite Eight in 2003 and Final Four in 2005. He coached future NBA stars Tayshaun Prince, Keith Bogans, Rajon Rondo, and Chuck Hayes. Despite his sustained excellence, pressure from fans seeking additional championships led to his departure for Minnesota in 2007.