Coaching in the NBA is not for the faint of heart: the job is demanding, the lifespan is short, and the players hold the helm in that league.
This makes it a very different job than in college, where coaches can hand-select their players and have more control over their programs. While solid tactical knowledge is important in both leagues, recruiting skills are even more important in college.
Due to the different skill sets required in both leagues, college coaches attempting to make the transition to the NBA have often met with spectacular failure. Along the way, there have been some success stories. Here are some notable examples from recent history.
College coaches who failed in the NBA
Rick Pitino
Pitino is a college legend who led three different schools to the NCAA Final Four, winning national championships at both Kentucky and Louisville.
He had a decent first stint as an NBA head coach with the Knicks, going 90-74 over two seasons, before returning to college and winning his first national championship and becoming a household name.
He returned to the NBA a second time with the Celtics in 1997 but had a disastrous run, with his pressing style not suited to a long schedule against better talent.
Pitino resigned in 2001 after going 102-146 in four seasons, and his “Larry Bird ain't coming through that door” rant remains one of the most iconic lines in NBA coaching history.
PJ Carlesimo
Carlesimo completely rebuilt the Seton Hall University program, leading it to six NCAA Tournament appearances in 12 years, including a loss in the 1989 finals.
Carlesimo then moved to the Blazers, where he led them to the playoffs for three years before being released after failing to get past the first round. His tenure with the Warriors was even more unlucky, lasting just three seasons there after being thwarted by Latrell Sprewell.
Carlesimo had subsequent opportunities with the Sonics and Nets before leaving the NBA after the 2013 season with a career record of 239-315.
John Calipari
Calipari coached at the University of Massachusetts from 1988 to 1996, leading the school to five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and one Final Four appearance. He compiled a 193-71 record at the school and drew the attention of the NBA.
Calipari was hired by the Nets in 1996 and spent three years there, making one playoff appearance but losing the entire season, going 72-112 before returning to college.
While Calipari had success as a college coach, building a team that won a national championship largely on his recruiting skills, those soft skills don't translate as much in the NBA.
John Beilein
Beilein was considered one of the best coaches in the sport after leading the University of Michigan to two NCAA championships in 2013 and 2018. He compiled an impressive record of 571-325 during his 27-year collegiate coaching career.
Beilein was hired by the Cavs in 2019 but finished with a 14-40 record in just 54 games that season. He was viewed as a detail-oriented manager at the NBA level, and players simply didn't resonate with his communication style.
Lon Kruger
Kruger built successful programs at Kansas State, Florida State and Illinois State during the '80s and '90s, compiling an impressive 674-432 record in collegiate league play and leading Florida State to a Final Four appearance.
His success at the university led him to become the Hawks' head coach in 2000. He finished with a 69-122 record and was fired midway through the 2002-03 season.
Kruger then returned to college and continued to have success at UNLV and Oklahoma.
Fred Hoiberg
Hoiberg was handpicked by the Bulls to replace head coach Tom Thibodeau. Hoiberg's offensive acumen, more laid-back attitude and NBA experience made him a likely candidate. After winning 67 percent of his games at Iowa State, he became one of the hottest coaches.
Hoiberg ended up having a very hard time getting Jimmy Butler and the other players to buy into his strategy. It didn't help that he was forced to work with a poor roster, and the team was in the midst of a complete rebuild in his third year. He was fired midway through his fourth year with a 115-155 record.
Successful college coaches in the NBA
Brad Stevens
Stevens has had success wherever he's gone, leading Butler to consecutive Final Four appearances, including a 61-59 loss to Duke in the 2010 national championship game.
Stevens was hired by the Celtics in 2013 at age 36 and led them to a 354-282 record in eight seasons, leading the team from last place to three appearances in the Eastern Conference finals and finishing in the top eight in Coach of the Year voting five straight years.
In 2021, Stevens made the transition from coach to president of basketball operations. He has excelled not only as a coach but also as the team's leading decision maker, earning him the NBA Executive of the Year award in 2024.
Billy Donovan
Donovan is another college coach who had the benefit of NBA experience, albeit to a lesser extent, having played 44 games for the Knicks after a stellar collegiate career.
Donovan coached Florida for 19 years before coming to the NBA, winning consecutive NCAA titles and compiling a 467-186 record.
There were always teams trying to acquire Donovan, but he turned down a job with the Magic at the last minute and ultimately ended up with the Thunder in 2015.
Calling Donovan a success may be a stretch, especially considering the high standards he set at the collegiate level: He reached the NBA Finals with the Thunder trio of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Russell Westbrook, but he has never won a championship or finished higher than third in Coach of the Year voting.
But he had a long NBA career, compiling a 399-319 record in nine seasons, and is considered by many to be a trustworthy head coach.
