1952: NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Records of Active Coaches

1951

1952

1953

Champion Second Place Third place Fourth place

Kansas St. John's Illinois Santa Clara

Phog Allen Frank McGuire Harry Combes Bob Feerick

Active coaches (10+ games)

Rank Coach, Current school Yrs W-L Pct. Latest Final

All Trn 1952 All 4 2 1

1 Adolph Rupp, Kentucky 22 6 1-1 13-3 .813 1952 4 3 3

2 Hank Iba, Oklahoma A&M 23 4 10-3 .769 1951 4 3 2

3 Harry Combes, Illinois 5 3 3-1 8-3 .727 1952 3 0 0

4 Harold Olsen, Northwestern 30 4 6-4 .600 1946 4 1 0

5 Everett Shelton, Wyoming 15 6 1-1 4-9 .308 1952 1 1 1

Rank	Coach, Current school	Yrs	W-L	Pct.	Latest	Final
All	Trn	1952	All	4	2	1
1	Adolph Rupp, Kentucky	22	6	1-1	13-3	.813	1952	4	3	3
2	Hank Iba, Oklahoma A&M	23	4		10-3	.769	1951	4	3	2
3	Harry Combes, Illinois	5	3	3-1	8-3	.727	1952	3	0	0
4	Harold Olsen, Northwestern	30	4		6-4	.600	1946	4	1	0
5	Everett Shelton, Wyoming	15	6	1-1	4-9	.308	1952	1	1	1

Highlights:

Adolph Rupp uncharacteristically doesn't win the championship with Kentucky finishing 1-1. He still tops the list at .813.

Harry Combes leads Illinois to its third national third place finish in four years and debuts on the list at .727.

Everett Shelton finally wins a game, improving his last place record to .308.

John Wooden loses two more games in his second tournament appearance to remaining winless at 0-4.

1952 marks the real birth of the Final Four as there are now four regionals whose champions converge at the site of the finals to compete for the title. Previously, the four teams at the title site were the two regional champions playing for the national title and the regional runners-up playing for national third place.

Champion	Second Place	Third place	Fourth place
Kansas	St. John's	Illinois	Santa Clara
Phog Allen	Frank McGuire	Harry Combes	Bob Feerick

	Adolph Rupp uncharacteristically doesn't win the championship with Kentucky finishing 1-1. He still tops the list at .813.
	Harry Combes leads Illinois to its third national third place finish in four years and debuts on the list at .727.
	Everett Shelton finally wins a game, improving his last place record to .308.
	John Wooden loses two more games in his second tournament appearance to remaining winless at 0-4.
	1952 marks the real birth of the Final Four as there are now four regionals whose champions converge at the site of the finals to compete for the title. Previously, the four teams at the title site were the two regional champions playing for the national title and the regional runners-up playing for national third place.