2. Jeff Bzdelik, Wake Forest
Replacing Dino Gaudio

The only factor that keeps Bzdelik's gig from being No. 1 on this list? The level of expectations, given that he's replacing a guy who had a 61-31 record over the past three seasons and was fired for not winning enough in the NCAA tournament. There won't be any patience for mediocrity at Wake. What makes Bzdelik's situation such a good one is that he's stepping into a very stable program: He kept Gaudio's entire top-15 recruiting class (including a quartet of four-star prospects) intact, and retained ace recruiter Jeff Battle as an associate head coach. The Deacons may miss the NCAA tournament this season after losing stars Al-Farouq Aminu and Ish Smith, but they're well-positioned for success in 2011-12 and beyond.