Mississippi State Bulldogs Men's Basketball Head Coaches
If there is one thing that the Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball program is known for, it's the consistent excellence of their head coaches. Over the years, the Bulldogs have had some of the best coaches in college basketball, who have built the program into what it is today.
The Early Years: Babe McCarthy and Richard Williams
The Bulldogs basketball program dates back to 1908, but it was in the 1950s and 60s that the program really started to take off. Babe McCarthy was the first coach to lead the Bulldogs to national prominence, coaching the team from 1956 to 1965. During his tenure, McCarthy led the Bulldogs to two SEC championships and back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament in 1963 and 1964.
After McCarthy left the program, the Bulldogs experienced a bit of a down period, but that changed when Richard Williams took over in 1987. Williams inherited a program that had finished last in the SEC the previous year, but he quickly turned things around. In 1991, Williams led the Bulldogs to their first-ever SEC championship and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. But Williams' biggest accomplishment came in 1996, when he led the Bulldogs to the Final Four, the first and only time in program history.
The Rick Stansbury Era
After Williams left the program in 1998, Rick Stansbury took over as head coach. Stansbury led the Bulldogs to six NCAA Tournament appearances and two SEC championships during his 14-year tenure. Stansbury's best season came in 2004, when he led the Bulldogs to the SEC regular-season championship and a trip to the round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament.
The Ben Howland Era
After Stansbury stepped down in 2012, the Bulldogs hired Ben Howland as their new head coach. Howland had previously coached at UCLA, where he led the Bruins to three consecutive Final Four appearances from 2006-2008. In his first few years at Mississippi State, Howland struggled to rebuild the program, but he has since led the Bulldogs to two straight trips to the NIT and a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2019.
The Future of Mississippi State Basketball
As the Bulldogs look to the future, they are in good hands with Ben Howland, who has a proven track record of success in college basketball. Howland has built a solid foundation for the program, and with a talented roster returning for the 2020-2021 season, the Bulldogs could be poised for a breakout year. It remains to be seen if Howland can lead the Bulldogs to their first Final Four since 1996, but if history is any indication, Mississippi State basketball is in good hands.
Conclusion
Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball has a rich history, filled with talented coaches who have built the program into what it is today. From Babe McCarthy to Rick Stansbury to Ben Howland, each coach has left their mark on the program, and the Bulldogs continue to be a consistently strong team in the SEC. As the program looks to the future, Mississippi State fans can be excited about what's to come.
