John Beilein's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A closer look at the biggest achievements of John Beilein. Awards, milestones, and records that define success.

John Beilein is an American basketball coach and analyst for the Big Ten Network. He's known for his successful college coaching career, including stints at Michigan, West Virginia, Richmond, and Canisius. Before joining the Big Ten Network, Beilein served as the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA. He also coached Le Moyne Dolphins, Nazareth College and Erie Community College. Beilein has accumulated over 754 wins at four-year universities and 829 games altogether, including those at the junior college level. Beilein's overall career wins counting the time spent in Cleveland is 843 games.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1981: Coach of the Year Award

In 1981, John Beilein was recognized as conference coach of the year at Erie Community College.

1984: School Record for Most Wins to Start a Season

In 2018-19, Michigan went on to win its first 17 games of the season tying the 1984-85 team for most consecutive wins altogether.

1985: Michigan Finishes Season

In 2011-12, the Wolverines finished 24–10 overall and 13–5 in Big Ten play, winning a share of the regular-season Big Ten championship for the first time since the 1985–86 team.

1985: School Record for Most Wins to Start a Season

In 2018-19, Michigan went on to win its first 17 games of the season tying the 1984-85 team for most consecutive wins altogether.

1986: First Outright Big Ten Championship Since 1986

In 2014, Beilein led Michigan to a 15-3 conference record, securing the university's first outright regular season Big Ten championship since 1986.

1988: Named MCC Coach of the Year

In 1988, John Beilein was named the MCC Coach of the Year, when his Le Moyne team finished as co-conference champions with a 21–5 regular season record and number 14 national ranking.

1992: Single-Season Program Record

On March 24, Michigan defeated Florida State 58–54 in the West regional finals of the 2018 NCAA tournament. With the win, Michigan advanced to the Final Four for the eighth time in program history and set a single-season program record with its 32nd victory of the season, surpassing the previous record of 31 wins set by the 1992–93 and 2012–13 teams.

1993: Canisius' First Undefeated Home Schedule

During the 1993–94 season, Beilein turned Canisius into a team that recorded the first undefeated home schedule (15–0) in the school's modern era.

1993: Michigan Advances to the Final Four

In 2013, John Beilein led Michigan to the Final Four for the first time since 1993.

1994: Craig Wise, MAAC Player of the Year

During the 1994–95 season, the Golden Griffins were led by the team's first MAAC Player of the Year, senior Craig Wise.

1994: MAAC Coach of the Year

In 1994, Beilein earned the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. The team entered the 1994 MAAC tournament on a 15-game winning streak.

1994: Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Coach of the Year

In 1994, John Beilein was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Coach of the Year while at Canisius.

1995: Darrell Barley, MAAC Player of the Year

During the 1995–96 season, Darrell Barley was named MAAC Player of the Year.

1995: Post-Season Win

In 1995, Canisius earned its first post-season victory in 32 years, in the NIT against Seton Hall. The team lost in the semifinals against Virginia Tech by a 71–59 despite a school postseason record 32 points from Wise.

1995: Michigan ends losing streak

On March 1, 2011, Michigan won at Illinois for the first time since 1995, ending a 13-game losing streak in Champaign.

1998: Richmond Times-Dispatch Virginia Coach of the Year

In 1998, John Beilein received the Richmond Times-Dispatch Virginia Coach of the Year award.

1998: 1998 NCAA tournament selection

In 1998, the Richmond Spiders posted its first winning season since 1993. The team won the tournament, earning the school a 1998 NCAA tournament selection, its first NCAA tournament berth since 1991. Richmond, which was seeded 14th, upset the third-seeded South Carolina in the first round of the tournament, but lost their second game in the tournament to the Washington Huskies.

1998: Big Ten Tournament Title Since 1998

In 2017, Michigan went on to win its next three games to achieve its first Big Ten tournament title since its 1998 title that has been vacated.

2000: First in CAA

During the 2000–01 season, Richmond finished the regular season with a 21–6 record, finishing first in the CAA with a 12–4 record. The Spiders won ten of their final eleven games.

2002: Patrick Beilein: Virginia Independent Schools Division I Player of the Year

In 2002, Patrick Beilein, John Beilein's son, was named Virginia Independent Schools Division I Player of the Year.

2004: WVU Reaches NCAA Tournament Elite Eight

In 2004, West Virginia University (WVU) achieved a 24–11 record and advanced to the "Elite Eight" round of the NCAA tournament.

2005: WVU Reaches Elite Eight in NCAA Tournament

In 2005, West Virginia, as the eighth seed, advanced through the Big East tournament, ultimately losing to Syracuse in the finals. They then earned a seven seed in the NCAA tournament, defeating Creighton, Wake Forest, and Texas Tech before losing to Louisville in the Elite Eight round.

2006: WVU Reaches NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen

In 2006, West Virginia University (WVU) achieved a 22–11 record and advanced to the "Sweet Sixteen" round of the NCAA tournament.

2007: West Virginia Wins NIT Championship

In 2007, West Virginia (WVU) won the NIT championship after defeating Clemson 78-73. Before the NIT semifinals, rumors circulated that Beilein would take the Michigan job. He was announced as a finalist for the job before the championship game.

2009: Michigan Reaches NCAA Tournament

In 2009, John Beilein led the Michigan Wolverines to their first NCAA tournament appearance in 11 years, earning a tenth seed and defeating Clemson before losing to Oklahoma in the second round. Also in 2009, Beilein had achieved a 20-win season at seven different schools, including four at the Division I level (Canisius, Richmond, West Virginia, Michigan).

2010: First Team to Win Consecutive Tournament Championships Since 2010 and 2011

In 2018, the wolverines became the first team to win consecutive tournament championships since Ohio State in 2010 and 2011.

2011: Michigan Reaches NCAA Tournament

In 2011, Michigan earned a #8 seed in the NCAA tournament, defeating Tennessee 75–45, establishing two NCAA tournament records: the largest victory margin by an eight seed, and becoming the first team to ever win a tournament game without making a free throw. However, they lost to Duke in the next round.

2011: First Team to Win Consecutive Tournament Championships Since 2010 and 2011

In 2018, the wolverines became the first team to win consecutive tournament championships since Ohio State in 2010 and 2011.

2011: Michigan Defeats Michigan State

On January 17, 2011, Michigan defeated 9th-ranked Michigan State, marking Beilein's third consecutive win over the Spartans.

2012: Beilein Reaches Coaching Milestones

By helming the 2012-13 Wolverines, Beilein reached his sixth season with the same team for the first time. Beilein achieved his 650th win as a college basketball head coach in December 4, 2012. Also in 2012, Beilein achieved his 100th win as head coach at Michigan in December 8.

2012: School Record for Most Wins to Start a Season

In 2018-19, Michigan went on to win its first 17 games of the season setting the school record for most wins to start a season, surpassing the 2012-13 team.

2012: Single-Season Program Record

2013: Michigan Advances to NCAA Championship Game

In 2013, John Beilein led Michigan to the Final Four for the first time since 1993. They defeated Syracuse to advance to the national championship game, where they lost to Louisville. In 2013, John Beilein was selected as an assistant coach for the 2013 World University Games.

2014: 2014 Season Achievements

In 2014, Beilein won Michigan's first outright regular season Big Ten championship since 1986. The Wolverines earned a #2 seed in the NCAA tournament, where they lost in the Elite Eight to eventual runner-up Kentucky. Beilein was named Big Ten Coach of the Year by the media and earned his 700th career win to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive season.

2014: Michigan Conference Coach of the Year

In 2014, John Beilein was recognized as conference coach of the year at Michigan.

2016: Milestone Wins During 2016-17 Season

During the Wolverines' 2016–17 season Beilein achieved several milestones: 750th career win as a head coach (December 22 vs. Furman), his 200th career win as head coach at Michigan (January 4 vs. Penn State), and his 500th career Division I win as a head coach (February 22 vs. Rutgers).

March 9, 2017: Surpassing Johnny Orr

On March 9, 2017, Beilein surpassed Johnny Orr to become the all-time leader in wins as coach at Michigan with a win over Illinois at the 2017 Big Ten tournament.

June 2017: Title Renaming

In June 2017, Beilein's title was renamed as the David and Meredith Kaplan Men's Basketball Head Coach at Michigan after a $7.5 million gift from UM alums David Kaplan and his wife, Meredith Kaplan.

2017: Cleanest Coach in College Basketball

In 2017, John Beilein was voted the cleanest coach in college basketball in a poll conducted by CBS.

2017: 2017-18 Season

The 2017-18 Wolverines won the 2018 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament to claim their second consecutive Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament championship

November 6, 2018: 800th Career Win

On November 6, 2018, Beilein earned his 800th career win as a head coach with a victory over Norfolk State.

2018: 2018 Season Achievements

In 2018, the Wolverines won their second consecutive Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament. The team advanced to the Final Four for the eighth time in program history and set a single-season program record with its 32nd victory. After outlasting Loyola Chicago in the Final Four game, they fell to Villanova in the 2018 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game.