Younger coaches could raise stock at NCAA

This is the time of year when a coach from outside the major conferences can make a name for himself and perhaps parlay an NCAA Tournament upset into a bigger job.

Here are 10 coaches — all 51 or younger — who could emerge as candidates on the coaching carousel.

JOHN BECKER, VERMONT Age: 48

Notable: Vermont is 29-5 and has the nation’s longest active winning streak with 21-straight victories. Vermont went unbeaten in America East competition.

JOHN BRANNEN, NORTHERN KENTUCKY Age: 43

Notable: Brannen, the Horizon League coach of the year, has Northern Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament in its first season of eligibility.

NATHAN DAVIS, BUCKNELL Age: 42

Notable: Bucknell has won two Patriot League regularseason championships and one Patriot League tournament title in Davis’ two seasons.

JOE DOOLEY, FLORIDA GULF COAST Age: 51

Notable: Dooley owns a 91-45 record at Florida Gulf Coast has won at least 21 games each of his four seasons. He’s in the NCAA Tournament for the second-straight year.

STEVE FORBES, EAST TENNESSEE STATE Age: 51

First-round game: Thursday vs. Florida at Orlando, Fla.

Notable: Forbes is a former Texas A&M, Tennessee and Wichita State assistant who owns a 51-19 record in two seasons at ETSU and has the Bucs in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010 .

MITCH HENDERSON, PRINCETON Age: 41

Notable: Henderson, a Princeton alum who played in three NCAA Tournaments, has led the Tigers on a 19-game winning streak. He owns a 119-59 mark in six seasons, though this marks his first NCAA appearance as a head coach.

KEVIN KEATTS, UNC WILMINGTON Age: 44

Notable: Keatts owns a 7227 record in three seasons at UNC Wilmington and is making his second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

PAT KELSEY, WINTHROP Age: 41

Notable: Kelsey owns a 10258 record in five seasons at Winthrop, which had a 20-loss season the year before his arrival.

LeVELLE MOTON, NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL Age: 42

Notable: Moton owns a 152102 record in eight seasons and has won at least 25 games three of the last four years.

WILL WADE, VCU Age: 34

Notable: Wade owns a 91-44 record in four seasons as a head coach, including a 51-19 mark in two seasons at VCU.