Jason Kidd led the New Jersey Nets basketball franchise to consecutive NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003. Ten days after retiring from a 19-year playing career that will eventually lead to a place in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Kidd was officially announced as the next head coach of that same Nets franchise, now located in Brooklyn, New York.
Signing a three-year deal to take over a Brooklyn team that lost to the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the 2012-2013 NBA Playoffs, Kidd inherits a roster chock full of talent. Point guard Deron Williams is the team leader, and along with his scoring and distribution skills, the Nets rely heavily on scorer Joe Johnson. Add in All-Star Brook Lopez and talented forward Gerald Wallace and there's no reason to doubt Brooklyn will be a serious contender in the Eastern Conference next season, something their 40-year-old head coach is excited about.
This is a tremendous opportunity to be named head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, and it's a role I have been studying for over the course of my playing days. Championship teams are built on being prepared, playing unselfishly and being held accountable, and that's how I expect to coach this basketball team. I am truly excited about this next phase of my basketball career.
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Kidd now enters the ranks as another young coach in college and professional sports looking to find success among seasoned veterans. With that in mind, here's a look at the Top 5 coaches in college and pro sports age 40 and under.
5. Josh Pastner - University of Memphis Men's Basketball
Posting a 106-34 record in 4 seasons with the Memphis Tigers men's basketball program, Josh Pastner is quickly becoming one of the best coaches in the college game. The 35-year-old took over for John Calipari after he departed for Kentucky and finding success instantaneously, Pastner became a fan favorite. He led Memphis to three consecutive 20-plus win seasons and back-to-back trips to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2011 and 2012. His finest season as Tigers head coach was last season. Memphis finished the year 31-5 overall including perfect 16-0 mark in Conference USA, advancing to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. As he continues to win and produce high-level recruits, expect Josh Pastner to become a hot name in the coming seasons.
4. Pat Fitzgerald - Northwestern University Football
Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008 for his stellar playing career at Northwestern, Pat Fitzgerald returned to the Wildcats in 2006, taking over a struggling program. Posting a 4-8 record that season, Northwestern began to show signs of talent despite the sub-.500 record. The team won 6 games the following season before finishing 9-4 in 2008, culminating with a berth in the Alamo Bowl. 2012 was the finest season for the 38-year-old former linebacker as he guided NU to a 10-3 mark and a Gator Bowl victory over Mississippi State. The Wildcats finished last season ranked No. 17 in the Associated Press poll, the highest year-end ranking in Fitzgerald's 7-year tenure.
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3. Frank Vogel - Indiana Pacers
Taking over the Indiana Pacers coaching job 38 games into the 2011 season, Frank Vogel became an instant success as an NBA head coach. Improving team results in each of his 3 seasons, Vogel built on a 2011 playoff appearance with a trip to the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2012, losing to the eventual champion Miami Heat in six games. The 39-year-old and his Pacers won 49 games this past season, good enough for the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Defeating the Atlanta Hawks in the first round followed by a six-game series win over the New York Knicks, Indiana was once again matched up with the Heat, this time in the Conference Finals. Playing with tremendous effort, Indiana took Miami to the maximum 7 games before bowing out in South Beach. With a core group of players including Roy Hibbert, David West and Paul George set to return next year, keep a close eye on Frank Vogel and the Indiana Pacers.
2. Buzz Williams - Marquette University Men's Basketball
In five seasons as Marquette basketball coach, Buzz Williams has kept the Golden Eagles at the top of the college basketball world. Winning 20-plus games each season, Williams led the Eagles to back-to-back NCAA Sweet Sixteen's in 2011 and 2012. Following a 26-9 finish this season, Williams and Marquette were matched up against Big East rival Syracuse in the Elite Eight. Falling to the Orange in a low-scoring contest, Marquette's season came to a disappointing end but showing the ability to develop players over the years, Buzz Williams is undoubtedly one of the best young coaches in all of sports, not just on the college level.
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1. Brad Stevens - Butler University Men's Basketball
Brad Stevens burst onto the coaching scene during the 2007-2008 college basketball season, leading the Butler Bulldogs to a 30-4 record and trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Accumulating 89 wins his first three seasons as head coach, the 36-year-old former point guard broke the NCAA record for most wins in a coaches first three seasons. Guiding Butler to records of 33-5 in 2010 and 28-10 in 2011, Stevens led the Bulldogs to consecutive NCAA Championship games where they'd fall to Duke and Connecticut respectively. Following a 27-9 record this past season, Stevens continues to produce at Butler and despite offers to move to bigger universities, the Bulldog coach is perfectly happy with his current position.
Feel free to leave your thoughts concerning our list of the Top 5 coaches under the age of 40.
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