WASHINGTON — A number of long-tenured college basketball coaches have become synonymous with their schools. Unlike professional sports, where turnover is constant, tenures at the NCAA level can span several decades. And over that time, the coaches at some programs have begun to look like their programs’ mascots.

Bear with us and really think about it. Whatever the reason — years of side-by-side photos on school branding, the tendency for mascots to pick up body language of those around them, even a subtly subconscious redesign of the mascot itself over the years — the trend has existed for years and continues today.

Is this a vital, burning sports topic? Is it intrinsic to our very understanding of the game we love? Absolutely not. We just think it’s funny, and we hope you will as well.

In that vein, we present 12 college basketball coaches who look like the mascot of the school they represent. Enjoy.