Has a coach ever won the national championship and left the following year?

**calm like a bomb** · Apr 3, 07, 01:05 AM

All the talk of Billy Donovan coming to UK has me asking if any coach has ever won the national championship then went to another school the following year? Also, how many coaches won the national championship in their final seasons? I know John Wooden won the NC in '75, his final season at UCLA.

**_Scarface_** · Apr 3, 07, 01:25 AM

I put this question in Google & look at the first 2 things that came up...
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search

**calm like a bomb** · Apr 3, 07, 01:40 AM

HAHA, that is pretty weird that that would come up, but I guess it is to be expected with all the banter about it.

**sportsfan41** · Apr 3, 07, 02:00 AM

Originally Posted by calm like a bomb

All the talk of Billy Donovan coming to UK has me asking if any coach has ever won the national championship then went to another school the following year? Also, how many coaches won the national championship in their final seasons? I know John Wooden won the NC in '75, his final season at UCLA.

If you say "the following year" and not the next season, wouldn't Pitino fit under that category?

**The Scribe** · Apr 3, 07, 02:01 AM

Didn't Larry Brown leave for the NBA? I can't remember a coach who left for another college job.

**calm like a bomb** · Apr 3, 07, 02:04 AM

I meant the next season, I should have been more clear. I wouldn't think that Pitino would fit into that category because he won the championship at UK in '96, and he was runner up at UK in '97.....therefore he didn't win it all before he left.

**calm like a bomb** · Apr 3, 07, 02:07 AM

I'm almost willing to bet a coach has never won the championship then jumped ship the following season to another college. I know Larry Brown won the championship at Kansas in '88 I think, then I asume he went to the professional level the following year. I know he is the only coach to win a championship in the collegiate and professional ranks, which is quite impressive.

**Sharp** · Apr 3, 07, 08:55 AM

Al Mcguire won the NC in 77 and retired.

**TheDeuce** · Apr 3, 07, 08:59 AM

Originally Posted by Sharp

Al Mcguire won the NC in 77 and retired.

That's different, IMO.

**LRCW** · Apr 3, 07, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by Sharp

Al Mcguire won the NC in 77 and retired.

As did John Wooden in 75

**dawgs83** · Apr 3, 07, 09:26 AM

Jim harrick was fired at the start of the 96 season at UCLA. He did not voluntarily leave though for another job. Recruiting violations.

**Sharp** · Apr 3, 07, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by LRCW

As did John Wooden in 75

Yes that was posted in the 1st post.

**Sharp** · Apr 3, 07, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by TheDeuce

That's different, IMO.

Different than what? I answered what his question ask in the thread title and his post. He also mentioned in his post that Wooden left after his NC win in 75. That is why I brought up Al Mcguire.