Along the lines of coaches of sports other than basketball, football, and baseball, this list should probably include former Arkansas Track and Field Coach John McDonnell. (I do realize that he has a chance a 3 national championships per year, but still, during the time he coached he won 42 of the 66 national championships possible).
42 NCAA Championships
--11 Cross Country NC
--19 Indoor Track NC
--12 Outdoor Track NC
5 NCAA Triple Crowns
38 SWC Championships
46 SEC Championships
30 time national COY
49 time conference COY
62 time regional COY
devildm
Duke '03
You seemed to be wondering why Tom wasn't included, despite his incredible success. I may not be right, was just offering a possible reason for why some journalists may not put him amongst the top 15 ranks of John Wooden, Pat Summit or Coach K. My guess is it was his decision to reinstate his star running back after committing a serious violent crime against a Nebraska coed / LP's girlfriend, which some feel Tom used his power to hush her up.
And to minimize LP's crimes as a "rap sheet" is laughable. Dude is now serving 31 years for assault with a deadly weapon on three high school students not to mention his lifelong resume of serious multiple domestic violence assaults which added to his sentence. Anytime a coach stakes his own professional reputation to extend special privileges to someone who turns out to be a menace to society -- it's reasonable to expect that person could take some character hits simply by association.
Other than that, Tom is perfect and should be not only Top 15 -- but Number 1, right?
I am well aware of Phillip's criminal career. I was a freshmen at Nebraska in '95 when he dragged Kate McEwan down a couple flights of steps and assaulted her. I am also aware of his current jail sentence and every time I watch highlights of that '95 team it pains me to see how he just threw away his talent.
I gotta ask, why 17? Most lists are the top 5 or the best 10. If you want to stretch it out past 10 because it is such a broad topic, then go to 20. 17 just seems odd. Like they discovered who 18 was for their criteria and didn't like him so they stopped.