NCAA basketball: Ranking the 25 best college basketball coaches ever

No. 12: Lou Henson

Building programs was a staple of the Lou Henson coaching career, and it led to him being the career victories leader at two programs with impressive histories of their own.

New Mexico State and Illinois both owe some of their most impressive seasons to Henson, who took both schools to the Final Four while becoming their leader in career victories with 289 with the Aggies, and 779 with the Fighting Illini. Henson joins the aforementioned Sutton to make up the second half of coaches who have amassed at least 200 total wins at two different institutions.

Henson’s legendary career saw him take his programs to two Final fours, and claim a conference title in both the Big Ten and the Big West. He also helped aid in bringing big-name players like Jimmy Collins, Sam Lacey, Nick Anderson, Steve Bardo, Eddie Johnson and others to the next level.

Henson’s loyalty is unquestionable, as, after the abrupt firing of Neil McCarthy at New Mexico State, Henson returned, agreeing to coach for just $1 a month (to comply with a state law not allowing him to coach or free).

Henson has been a fighter since his retirement due to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple times surviving chemotherapy, and returning to both of his schools nonetheless.