From D3 to Coaching D1 MBB 'March Madness'

We’re spotlighting the former D3 Athletes & Coaches who are leading a team as a Head Coach in the 2025 NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball Tournament aka March Madness.

If you dream of coaching after college, then you will be wise to tune in and remember this:

Many of the greatest basketball coaches in the world right now got their start at the NCAA Division 3 level.

In this year’s field alone, there are number of squads to root for:

  • 9 Teams coached by a former D3 player (+2 borderline “D3” cases)

  • 3 Teams coached by a former D3 coach

Here’s the full list👇


Former D3 Players

Tommy Lloyd

Whitman ➡ Arizona

Coach Lloyd wore #11 during his D3 hoops playing days at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. Since then all he’s done is be named AP Men’s Basketball National Coach of the year (2022) and set the record for the most NCAA D1 wins in a coach’s first two seasons.

Not bad for a D3 guy 🤷‍♂️

Robert Jones

SUNY New Paltz ➡ Norfolk State

In addition to being a HOF athlete at SUNY New Paltz, Coach Jones also spent time coaching at the D3 level - both at Bard College and his alma mater.

At New Paltz, Jones was a 3x All-SUNYAC performer who registered an impressive 1,321 points, 875 career rebounds, and 140 blocks.

Brad Underwood

Hardin-Simmons ➡ Illinois

Coach Underwood played a year for the Cowboys of Hardin-Simmons in Abilene, Texas and also started his coaching career there in 1986 as a graduate assistant.

He’s been the head coach of the University of Illinois’ men’s basketball team since 2017 and has an overall record of 164–100 (.621) during his tenure.

Ryan Odom

Hampden–Sydney ➡ VCU

Coach Odom was an Economics Major and the starting point guard for the Tigers from 1992-96. Just another reminder that you can be more than your sport as a D3 Athlete.

When he graduated from HSC, Coach Odom was the school's all-time leader in 3 pointers made and fourth all-time in assists.[5]

Chris Jans

Loras ➡ Mississippi State

He played at Loras from 1987–1991.

Brad Brownell

DePauw ➡ Clemson

DePauw is a small D3 school in Indiana who’s basketball program churns out notable coaches named “Brad”. Talent like Brad Brownell & Brad Stevens among them.

This Brad has Clemson absolutely rolling and back in the D1 NCAA tournament again (this time as a 5-seed).

T.J. Otzelberger

Wisconsin-Whitewater ➡ Iowa State

Another tournament mainstay, Iowa State follows up on their 2-seed last year and is a 3-seed who faces off against Lipscomb in their first game.

As a D3 men’s basketball player at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, T.J. was a point guard and a two-year team captain.

Shaka Smart

Kenyon ➡ Marquette

Before he took the D1 level by storm as a Coach, Smart played his collegiate ball at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. Some highlights from his D3 men’s basketball career:

  • Graduated magna cum laude with a degree in history

  • Four-year starter for the Kenyon Lords men’s basketball team

  • All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) selection & NCAC Scholar Athlete of the Year

His Marquette Golden Eagles are a 7-seed and take on New Mexico in their first game of the 2025 NCAA D1 Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Greg Gard

Wisconsin-Platteville ➡ Wisconsin

Greg Gard was class of 1995 at Wisconsin- Platteville and started coaching before he even graduated. His tenure as an assistant coach ran from 1993–99 where he coached alongside another Wisconsin great, Bo Ryan.

His Wisconsin Badgers a 3-seed in 2025 and takes on Montana in their opening game.


Borderline D3…

We are labeling these as ‘borderline D3’ because the coach technically did not play NCAA Division 3 basketball during school.

However, if you are feeling generous and want to include them, then our count goes up!

Nate Oats

Maranatha Baptist (D3 now) ➡ Alabama

This one becomes more solid when you consider that Coach Oats got his start coaching basketball at the NCAA D3 level:

  • 1997–2000: Maranatha Baptist (assistant)

  • 2000–2002: Wisconsin–Whitewater (assistant)

James Jones

Albany (D1 now, but was D3 when he went there…) ➡ Yale

All Coach Jones does is win. He has the Bulldogs back in another NCAA tournament hungry for another upset.

Keep an eye on Yale Basketball.


Former D3 Coaches

Niko Medved

Coached at Macalester ➡ Colorado State

Coach Medved was the Associate Head Coach at Macalester College from 1997-99

Matt Painter

Coached at Washington & Jefferson ➡ Purdue

Coach Painter was a D3 Assistant Coach at W&J from 1993-94

Kevin Young

Coach at Oxford College (Emory)➡ Purdue

Coach Young was a D3 Assistant Coach at Oxford College from 2004–05

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D3 vs. D1 - What You Need to Know