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In the world of college sports, Twitter is a divisive subject. Many coaches go so far as to ban their players from using the social networking site for fear it will distract players or be used as a vehicle for trash talking. Then there’s the ambivalent group, the coaches who don’t block players from using Twitter, but will probably go to their graves without ever sending a tweet themselves. But some forward-thinking coaches have embraced Twitter as a way to connect with die-hard fans and give them news and info that can’t be had anywhere else. These 50 are the ones who do that the best.
Basketball
This three-time National Coach of the Year will keep you up to date with news from current and former players from the reigning Division I men’s hoops championship team at University of Kentucky.
2. Billy Donovan:
More than 70,000 followers keep in touch with this successful head of the Florida Gators men’s program, who tweets team news like updates on the all-important recruiting situation.
3. Chris Collins:
Collins is a former high school and college b-ball star and an up-and-coming associate head coach at Duke under the legendary Coach K. Keep an eye on this kid by following his Twitter feed.
4. Seth Greenberg:
Although he was recently let go after nine years as the head coach of Virginia Tech’s men’s basketball team, this 2005 ACC Coach of the Year will land on his feet. In the meantime, he’s tweeting basketball wisdom from his years of experience.
5. Scott Nagy:
South Dakota State made a decent showing in March Madness this year, giving eventual Elite 8 team Baylor a run for their money. Coach Nagy runs a fun Twitter feed, but don’t be surprised if he corrects your spelling.
6. Bill Self:
Every basketball season, there are a few usual suspects for who will make the Final Four. Kansas is one of those, so Coach Self’s feed is a can’t-miss.
7. Scott Drew:
Coach Drew has completely transformed Baylor men’s basketball, taking them from a 1-15 team to a serious championship contender. He’s got a lot to be happy about, and his positive tweets show it.
8. Jim Carr:
Longtime Rutgers coach Jim Carr recently took a job as an assistant coach at University of Rhode Island. He brings his reputation for wit and politeness to his Twitter feed.
9. Gary Blair:
He must be doing something right. Under Coach Blair’s guidance, the Texas A&M women’s basketball team won it all in 2011. He’s your best source of women’s hoops news from Aggieland.
10. Marvin Menzies:
His success at New Mexico State has had other schools trying to lure him away. For the near future, Coach Menzies goal is for the Aggies to improve on their disappointing first-round tournament exit in 2012.
11. Kevin McGuff:
@CoachMcGuff says the University of Washington has “some of the most intense women’s basketball fans in the country.” He tries to keep them informed with this Twitter feed.
12. Steve Wojciechowski:
This associate head coach at Duke is a serial tweeter, offering recruiting updates, inspiring quotes, and chats with Blue Devil hoops fans and former players-turned-pros.
13. Pat Summitt:
The famous “head coach emeritus” has recently begun tweeting again, keeping followers informed of Volunteer news and information about her foundation that deals with early-onset dementia.
14. Tom Crean:
After seeing success as Marquette’s head coach, Crean inherited a struggling Indiana team in 2008 that he led to the Sweet Sixteen this year. Subscribing to his Twitter feed is a good way to keep tabs on this coach whose stock continues to rise.
15. Cliff Warren:
Jacksonville U head coach Cliff Warren provides a good variety of tweeted material, regular featuring uplifting quotes and stats from pastors, former coaches, and successful businesspeople, in addition to team and school updates.
16. Chris Mack:
Xavier is a solid postseason team led by Coach Mack and his excellent 50-17 record. But his Twitter feed proves he’s not afraid to mix it up with fans or to share his thoughts on life as a husband and dad to two little girls.
17. Jay Wright:
Villanova hasn’t made the NCAA tournament since 2008. They’re always a team to watch and if Coach Wright keeps up the frenetic pace of his tweets come basketball season, this will be a feed to follow.
18. Bacari Alexander:
Assistant coach Alexander “strives to be a leader” for Michigan’s men’s basketball. His feed is a composite of positive quotes from A Godly Life, Inspirational Quotes, African Proverbs, and other Twitter feeds.
19. Kim Mulkey:
Mulkey’s coaching no doubt had a lot to do with Baylor women’s 40-0 2011-2012 season, the first ever in NCAA history. However, the possibility of sanctions looms. Stay tuned into this feed for news.
Football
20. Lane Kiffin:
Who knows what this polarizing USC head coach will take to Twitter to do next? Commit a recruiting violation? Wish Britney Spears happy birthday? The only way to find out is to follow along.
21. Les Miles:
Some consider Coach Miles’ Twitter feed to be perfect. Follow the LSU head coach and decide for yourself.
22. Lou Holtz:
OK, technically he hasn’t coached since 2004. But that year was Lou Holtz’s 45th year of coaching in both college and the NFL, meaning the guy knows his stuff and is worth keeping up with.
23. Mike Leach:
He’s been called a “bully” and a “certified nut job.” Can Coach Leach get it together and return to his glory days coaching at a major program like Texas Tech? Find out here.
24. Will Muschamp:
In 2010, Muschamp took over at Florida from the winningest coach in SEC history, and things have gotten off to a rocky start. Follow along as he tries to restore the Gators to the high level of success they’re used to.
25. Daon Roberts:
This WVU assistant coach has all the makings of an intriguing tweeter: Harvard-educated professor, connoisseur of catfish, and sweet tea sommelier. Check him out.
26. Jim Mora:
Former Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks coach Jim Mora just signed a five-year contract with UCLA. He’s fired up to be coaching again and it will be interesting to see where he can take the Bruins.
27. Steve Sarkisian:
Coach Sark does a lot of work with Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, and uses his Twitter feed to keep followers updated on it, in addition to news on his #21-ranked Huskies.
28. Hugh Freeze:
The Ole Miss head coach regularly posts encouraging tweets with the tag #wintheday, with a healthy dose of fishing trip pictures thrown in for good measure.
29. Butch Jones:
The 2011 Big East Coach of the Year keeps fans abreast of Cincinnati football developments. They’re coming off a strong 2011 season capped by a bowl victory over Vanderbilt and look to maintain that momentum this year.
30. David Shaw:
You may have seen Coach Shaw working as a commentator for the NFL Network’s coverage of the draft. His day job is coaching the Stanford football team (hopefully) back to a bowl game without Andrew Luck running the offense.
31. Joker Phillips:
Kentucky football may not enjoy the same success as the men’s basketball team, but coach Joker Phillips keeps fan interest alive by regularly picking up the team, its achievements, and events on his Twitter feed.
32. June Jones:
Southern Methodist is looking to go out on a high note before it leaves Conference USA for the Big East. Follow along from recruitment to the post-season, if there is one, on Coach Jones’ feed.
33. Mike Gundy:
Mike Gundy is the man who’s turned Oklahoma State into a top-tier football program. Check up on his tweets for everything that’s happening with the Cowboys.
34. Bret Bielema:
This coach led Wisconsin to a great 2011 season that included a Big Ten championship. Their recruiting for this year has been solid and their prospects for the 2012 season look like they’ll make for some happy tweets.
35. Kevin Sumlin:
The former Houston head coach is looking to reverse the sagging fortunes of his new team, the Texas Aggies. You and the Aggie faithful can get your introduction to the new coach here.
36. Jemal Singleton:
OSU running backs coach @CoachSings provides a refreshing change to the priority schedule for many coaches. His bio proudly states it’s “faith+family+football.”
Baseball
37. Mike Bianco:
As of this writing, Ole Miss is safely into the NCAA tournament. Coach Bianco should be tweeting updates — like what movie they’re watching on the bus — along the way.
38. Billy Kennedy:
This Texas A&M “bus driver” (school slang for coach) has the eighth-ranked Aggies in prime position for a run at a national title, so keep an eye on their progress from the coach’s spot on the bench.
39. Chad Holbrook:
Check out the tweets from associate head coach Chad Holbrook as the South Carolina Gamecocks seek their third national championship in the last three years.
40. Jim Morris:
Miami has clenched a berth in the NCAA tournament, but they’ve been dealing with injuries late in the season. See if Coach Morris can lead them to a deep postseason run, and get the details here.
41. Sunny Golloway:
A strong late-season push should be enough to secure a tournament bid for the Sooners. Send your thoughts to coach Golloway as they make their run, or just enjoy his positive #keepfighting, #onepitchatatime, and #wineverypitch tags.
42. Steve Smith:
Baylor head coach Steve Smith invites you to “Follow to get his view from the dugout.” It’s a great time to be a sports fan at Baylor, and the baseball is no exception, so jump on the bandwagon.
43. Tracy Smith:
Indiana’s head coach runs this feed that keeps fans connected with Hoosier stickball news, with some personal thoughts and major league baseball takes from Smith.
Other Sports
44. Randy Waldrum:
The Twitter feed for the head coach of the women’s soccer team at Notre Dame is worth following on the strength of one funny tweet: “Just got locked in the bathroom @ ND for 45 minutes…had to be rescued through the ceiling!”
45. Nikki Izzo-Brown:
West Virginia women’s soccer had a solid 10-4 season last year. Coach Izzo-Brown will keep you connected with the team’s schedule, as well as her interest in the fight against breast cancer.
46. Rico Blasi:
He’s the most successful hockey coach in Miami University’s history. Follow Coach Blasi as Miami gears up to take to the ice this fall.
47. Tom Anastos:
Michigan State hockey currently holds a solid pre-season ranking of 15th in the country. As training heats up, this is the feed to follow for all your Spartan rink news.
48. Patrick Murphy:
Alabama’s softball team holds the #2 spot in the nation’s rankings right now. If you want to know something about their coach before the NCAA tourney starts, this is the place to look.
49. Stacey Nuveman Deniz:
Somehow this former gold-medal Olympian finds time in between coaching softball at San Diego State and raising a “bouncing baby boy” to keep her followers up to speed on her life.
50. Rhonda Revelle:
Nebraska softball head coach Revelle alternates her tweets between inspiring quotes and news from around the Cornhusker baseball and softball diamonds.
Provided by: http://www.onlinecollege.org
