Fansided

25 worst coaching hires in the history of college basketball

By Joey Loose

LEXINGTON, KY - JANUARY 21: Head coach Billy Gillispie of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts to the action during the SEC game against the Auburn Tigers at Rupp Arena on January 21, 2009 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY - JANUARY 21: Head coach Billy Gillispie of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts to the action during the SEC game against the Auburn Tigers at Rupp Arena on January 21, 2009 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Worst college basketball coach hires
LANDOVER, MD – JANUARY 08: Head coach Rollie Massimino of the UNLV Running Rebels looks on during a basketball game against the Georgetown Hoyas at Capital Centre on January 8, 1994 in Landover, Maryland (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

13. Rollie Massimino – UNLV (1992-1994)

  • 36-21 record (2 seasons)

For nearly two decades, Jerry Tarkanian had made UNLV one of the best programs in the nation, winning that national championship in 1990 and returning to the Final Four the following season. Unfortunately, Tarkanian was forced to step aside in 1992 following a series of NCAA sanctions and violations. Tarkanian had completely built this UNLV program from absolutely nothing, and the Runnin’ Rebels were desperate to bring in another head coach to restore the credibility and continue keeping UNLV in national prominence.

Rollie Massimino was surely a big name in college basketball at the time, coming off a phenomenal 19-year stretch leading Villanova. Infamous for winning the 1985 national championship with the Wildcats, Massimino had led Villanova to the Big East and built a fantastic program. His last few seasons at Villanova weren’t exactly fantastic, albeit not bad by any stretch, leading him to accept the challenge to restore UNLV to its recent glory.

Things did not go according to plan for the Runnin’ Rebels, even in bringing in the Hall of Famer. On the court, Massimino couldn’t lead UNLV back to the NCAA Tournament in either of his two seasons, finishing with a record of 36-21. Off the court, things weren’t good at all, with academic fraud, improper benefits, and an illegal side contract between Massimino and UNLV’s president that was not legal in the state of Nevada. The ordeal of these few seasons ruined the UNLV program, which would have very little success in the coming years. While all of the mess was not on Massimino, he certainly pushed the program into long-term disaster.