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Tennessee basketball: Ranking first five years of Vols coaches who lasted that long

By Caleb Calhoun

ST LOUIS, MO - MARCH 10: Rick Barnes the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers gives instructions to his team against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the semifinals of the 2018 SEC Basketball Tournament at Scottrade Center on March 10, 2018 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MO - MARCH 10: Rick Barnes the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers gives instructions to his team against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the semifinals of the 2018 SEC Basketball Tournament at Scottrade Center on March 10, 2018 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images
Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images /

Pick Analysis. Don DeVoe. 534. Scouting Report. 1978-1983. 100-53 (58-32). 2. player

Yearly record

1978-1979: 21-12 (12-6)

  • SEC Tournament Championship; NCAA Round of 32

1979-1980: 18-11 (12-6)

  • NCAA Round of 32

1980-1981: 21-8 (12-6)

  • NCAA Sweet 16

1981-1982: 20-10 (13-5)

  • SEC Championship; NCAA Round of 32

1982-1983: 20-12 (9-9)

  • NCAA Round of 32

Just like John Mauer, Don DeVoe inherited a Tennessee basketball program that was somewhat on a roll. After all, the Vols had seen amazing success under Ray Mears due to his forced early retirement. At the same time, just like Mauer, DeVoe made sure early on that the program would not have a drop-off. In fact, his first five years on Rocky Top were easily his most successful.

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The year DeVoe took over, the Vols shocked the world by going 21-12 and winning the SEC Tournament Championship along with an NCAA Tournament game. That offseason, a new guy by the name of Dale Ellis arrived, and DeVoe continued that consistency. In the Ellis years, he reached the Sweet 16 in 1981 and won the SEC regular season title in 1982.

Ellis played for four years and made at least the Round of 32 all four years, meaning DeVoe did it his first five years while also making one Sweet 16, winning one SEC Tournament and winning one SEC regular season title. That’s a stellar accomplishment.

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After Ellis, Tony White arrived, and DeVoe stumbled the next four years, making two straight NITs before having two straight losing seasons. He then had another NIT appearance and made one final NCAA Tournament his final year on the job. So he had a bit of a drop-off over a five-year period after that red-hot start, but that red-hot start stood out in a dramatic way.

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