After years of disappointing losses, Louisville’s Rick Pitino finally advanced to the Fashionable 4 and was crowned the Best-Dressed Coach in College Basketball. In what is considered one of the greatest nifty national semifinals of all-time, Pitino outlasted Villanova’s Jay Wright to reach the Championship. For the second straight season Kerry Keating (Santa Clara) advanced to the fashion finale, only to come up a cuff link short. Bradley’s Jim Les was also part of the fashion festivities.

Bacari Alexander became the first coach to win three titles, as he won the Assistant Coach Crown. He also became the first coach to represent three different schools in the Fashionable 4 (Detroit, Ohio and Western Michigan). It was Alexander’s fourth Fashionable 4 appearance in five seasons.

THE 2009 FASHIONABLE 4

Head Coach Tournament
Kerry Keating (Santa Clara)
Jim Les (Bradley)
Rick Pitino (Louisville)
Jay Wright (Villanova)

Assistant Coach Tournament
Bacari Alexander (Western Michigan)
Scott Burrell (Quinnipiac)
Wayne McClain (Illinois)
Kareem Richardson (Drake)