Hoops: College coaching carousel 2025

[Gerry Hamilton]

3 hours ago, bierce said:

Pitino is getting out of the imploding MWC as fast as he can, and he will land good gig somewhere.  

I agree ... but the carousel doesn't have that option for him yet. 

Maybe West Virginia ... I bet Buzz Williams is trying to get that one too

 

[Gerry Hamilton]

School: Out (29) / In (12)

Bellarmine Knights: Scott Davenport / Doug Davenport
Campbell Fighting Camels: Kevin McGeehan / John Andrzejek
Chicago State Cougars: Scott Spinelli /
Columbia Lions: Jim Engles /
Denver Pioneers: Jeff Wulbrun /
Florida State Seminoles: Leonard Hamilton / Luke Loucks
Fordham Rams: Keith Urgo /
Indiana Hoosiers: Mike Woodson / Darian DeVries
Iona Gaels: Tobin Anderson / Dan Geriot
Iowa Hawkeyes: Fran McCaffery /
La Salle Explorers: Fran Dunphy / Darris Nichols
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns: Bob Marlin / Quannas White
McNeese Cowboys: Will Wade /
Miami Hurricanes: Jim Larrañaga / Jai Lucas
Minnesota Golden Gophers: Ben Johnson /
Murray State Racers: Steve Prohm / Ryan Miller
NC State Wolfpack: Kevin Keatts / Will Wade
Oral Roberts Golden Eagles: Russell Springmann /
Pennsylvania Quakers: Steve Donahue /
Radford Highlanders: Darris Nichols /
Sacramento State Hornets: Michael Czepil (interim) /
South Florida Bulls: Amir Abdur-Rahim /
Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks: Kyle Keller / Matt Braeuer
UL Monroe Warhawks: Keith Richard /
UNLV Rebels: Kevin Kruger /
Utah Utes: Craig Smith / Alex Jensen
Villanova Wildcats: Kyle Neptune /
Virginia Cavaliers: Tony Bennett / Ryan Odom
West Virginia Mountaineers: Darian DeVries / 

[bierce]

9 hours ago, Gerry Hamilton said:

I agree ... but the carousel doesn't have that option for him yet. 

Maybe West Virginia ... I bet Buzz Williams is trying to get that one too

 

Even assuming McCollum to Iowa and Medved to Minn and Wade to NC State, there are still openings at Nova, WVU, and Texas ( or whoever opens when we hire someone's coach).

[Jordan91]

10 hours ago, Gerry Hamilton said:

I agree ... but the carousel doesn't have that option for him yet. 

Maybe West Virginia ... I bet Buzz Williams is trying to get that one too

 

Showed my Aggie wife this. She’s still pissed about the baseball coach. “Well if Buzz is leaving Texas better not take them.” Yeah Texas doesn’t want him. 

[bierce]

So now Xavier is open.  Will it call former coach Chris Mack?  Will it promote Adam Cohen?  Promoting Mack worked.  Promoting Travis Steele, not so much.   If I'm Richard Pitino, I do not take the Xavier job.  Roster is shredded, and the school will always struggle to overcome bigger, better funded schools in its own conference.  The choice between Nova and Xavier, if Pitino gets that choice, is an easy choice to me. 

Medved looks like a lock to Minnesota, McCollum to Iowa.

 

[bierce]

Medved and McCollum getting hired today by Minn and Iowa. 

Nova, WVU, Xavier, Colorado State, UNLV, VCU, and Drake now looking. 

[bierce]

Josh Eilert received 2 interim head coaching jobs in the last 2 years--WVU when it fired Huggins, and Utah when it fired Craig Smith.

So which coach do you think should least want to have Josh Eilert as an assistant in the upcoming year?

Fred Hoiberg--Nebraska hasn't had a coach last more than 7 years since Danny Nee (1986-2000).  Hoiberg had four terrible years before having a winning conference record and an NCAA appearance, but he went right back to 7-13, finishing the year on a 5 game losing streak.  Of course he received an extension last year to keep him in Lincoln through 2028-29.

Porter Moser--finally managed a tournament bid in his fourth season at OU.  Career conference record while at OU of 26-46.  Contract expires at end of 2027-28 season.

Aidan Autry--only 2 years in with Syracuse and feeling heat after 14-19, 7-13 year in a down year for the ACC.  Has Kiyan Anthony and Sadiq White coming in, but another year like this will probably end his tenure.

Johnny Dawkins--going into his 10th season at UCF.  Six years removed from his only team at UCF to make the tournament or finish in Pomeroy top 50.  Received a two year extension last summer after doing a little better than expected in UCF's first year in the Big 12, so his contract runs until 2026-27 ends. 

Steve Pikiell--ouch.  Second straight season with losing conference and overall record, and he did it this year with not one but two top 5 picks in the upcoming draft.  He received an extension through 2029-30 after the NCAA appearance in 2022. 

 

[bierce]

UNLV focused on Bryan Hodgson of Arkansas State.  He was an assistant to Oats for years.

 

[BabyBevo]

On 3/19/2025 at 4:59 PM, Gerry Hamilton said:

One hell of a run.

Great memories for me in the industry ... was lucky enough to be at the Oregon Sweet 16 game, Michigan State Elite 8 game, Memphis Elite 8 game, Duke Round of 32 game, etc. ... attended five NCAA Tournaments during that stretch. And there was TJ Ford, KD, DJ Augustin, Royal Ivey, PJ Tucker, Lamarcus Aldridge, Daniel Gibson, etc...

That 2008 Memphis team was a wagon! We unfortunately got paired with them as the 2 seed, Haha!

[bierce]

UNLV hired Pastner. 

Calhoun staying put at Utah State.

[zsmith22]

A bit shocked that WVU hasn't made a hire.

[bierce]

40 minutes ago, zsmith22 said:

A bit shocked that WVU hasn't made a hire.

WVU Wren Baker is in kind of a tough spot.  His last hire ran off to greener pastures after a single year.  That probably has him reluctant to hire someone like Richard Pitino.  He hoped for McCollum, but he stayed home in Iowa.  He wanted Calhoun, but Calhoun is now staying put at Utah State, and those were the two guys he was courting the most.  Mack is going back to Xavier from all indications, so forget that idea.

So Baker is down to WVU assistant Chester Frazier, and mid-major coaches not named Pitino--High Point coach Alan Huss and North Texas coach Ron Hodge.  Baker was the AD at North Texas for 6 years wile Hodge was an assistant to McCasland.  He was also interested in Schertz last year, so maybe he'd be an option. 

But with the portal open, it's probably time to get a guy. 

[Hashtag]

 

[bierce]

Move is more risky for Pitino than Xavier.  He takes over a completely gutted roster at a school that has less $ than many conference opponents.

[Gerry Hamilton]

School: Out (38) / In (26)

Alcorn State Braves: Landon Bussie /
Arkansas State Red Wolves: Bryan Hodgson /
Bellarmine Knights: Scott Davenport / Doug Davenport
Campbell Fighting Camels: Kevin McGeehan / John Andrzejek
Chicago State Cougars: Scott Spinelli / Landon Bussie
Colorado State Rams: Niko Medved /
Columbia Lions: Jim Engles / Kevin Hovde
Denver Pioneers: Jeff Wulbrun /
Drake Bulldogs: Ben McCollum /
Florida State Seminoles: Leonard Hamilton / Luke Loucks
Fordham Rams: Keith Urgo /
Indiana Hoosiers: Mike Woodson / Darian DeVries
Iona Gaels: Tobin Anderson / Dan Geriot
Iowa Hawkeyes: Fran McCaffery / Ben McCollum
La Salle Explorers: Fran Dunphy / Darris Nichols
Longwood Lancers: Griff Aldrich / Ronnie Thomas
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns: Bob Marlin / Quannas White
McNeese Cowboys: Will Wade / Bill Armstrong
Miami Hurricanes: Jim Larrañaga / Jai Lucas
Minnesota Golden Gophers: Ben Johnson / Niko Medved
Murray State Racers: Steve Prohm / Ryan Miller
Navy Midshipmen: Ed DeChellis /
NC State Wolfpack: Kevin Keatts / Will Wade
Oral Roberts Golden Eagles: Russell Springmann /
Pennsylvania Quakers: Steve Donahue /
Radford Highlanders: Darris Nichols / Zach Chu
Sacramento State Hornets: Michael Czepil (interim) / Mike Bibby
South Florida Bulls: Amir Abdur-Rahim / Bryan Hodgson
Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks: Kyle Keller / Matt Braeuer
Texas Longhorns: Rodney Terry / Sean Miller
UL Monroe Warhawks: Keith Richard / Phil Cunningham
UNLV Rebels: Kevin Kruger / Josh Pastner
Utah Utes: Craig Smith / Alex Jensen
VCU Rams: Ryan Odom /
Villanova Wildcats: Kyle Neptune / 
Virginia Cavaliers: Tony Bennett / Ryan Odom
West Virginia Mountaineers: Darian DeVries /
Xavier Musketeers: Sean Miller / Richard Pitino

[Jordan91]

4 minutes ago, Gerry Hamilton said:

School: Out (38) / In (26)

Alcorn State Braves: Landon Bussie /
Arkansas State Red Wolves: Bryan Hodgson /
Bellarmine Knights: Scott Davenport / Doug Davenport
Campbell Fighting Camels: Kevin McGeehan / John Andrzejek
Chicago State Cougars: Scott Spinelli / Landon Bussie
Colorado State Rams: Niko Medved /
Columbia Lions: Jim Engles / Kevin Hovde
Denver Pioneers: Jeff Wulbrun /
Drake Bulldogs: Ben McCollum /
Florida State Seminoles: Leonard Hamilton / Luke Loucks
Fordham Rams: Keith Urgo /
Indiana Hoosiers: Mike Woodson / Darian DeVries
Iona Gaels: Tobin Anderson / Dan Geriot
Iowa Hawkeyes: Fran McCaffery / Ben McCollum
La Salle Explorers: Fran Dunphy / Darris Nichols
Longwood Lancers: Griff Aldrich / Ronnie Thomas
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns: Bob Marlin / Quannas White
McNeese Cowboys: Will Wade / Bill Armstrong
Miami Hurricanes: Jim Larrañaga / Jai Lucas
Minnesota Golden Gophers: Ben Johnson / Niko Medved
Murray State Racers: Steve Prohm / Ryan Miller
Navy Midshipmen: Ed DeChellis /
NC State Wolfpack: Kevin Keatts / Will Wade
Oral Roberts Golden Eagles: Russell Springmann /
Pennsylvania Quakers: Steve Donahue /
Radford Highlanders: Darris Nichols / Zach Chu
Sacramento State Hornets: Michael Czepil (interim) / Mike Bibby
South Florida Bulls: Amir Abdur-Rahim / Bryan Hodgson
Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks: Kyle Keller / Matt Braeuer
Texas Longhorns: Rodney Terry / Sean Miller
UL Monroe Warhawks: Keith Richard / Phil Cunningham
UNLV Rebels: Kevin Kruger / Josh Pastner
Utah Utes: Craig Smith / Alex Jensen
VCU Rams: Ryan Odom /
Villanova Wildcats: Kyle Neptune / Richard Pitino
Virginia Cavaliers: Tony Bennett / Ryan Odom
West Virginia Mountaineers: Darian DeVries /
Xavier Musketeers: Sean Miller /

@Gerry Hamilton Pitino went to Xavier

[qaertyisthatdude]

Mike Bibby back in Sac town

[bierce]

WVU hired Hodge today.

Nova rumored to be looking at 71 year old Bob Huggins while Maryland is still sweating out the Willard situation.  

[bierce]

It is hitting the fan in College Park.  Willard is reported to have skipped the team dinner.  Maryland plays Florida tonight in the early game out west.

[bierce]

Colorado State promoted assistant Ali Farokhmanesh.  

Time to see what New Mexico will do.  Nice arena in which to play, but the conference will be severely diminished.  Report is that Baby Pitino took his entire staff with him to Xavier, so no promoting assistants for them. 

I wonder if UNM will forego the up and coming young coach route and go with a P5 guy no longer employed like Keatts, Craig Smith, or Terry.  Smith and Terry have coached in the conference before. 

Edited Thursday at 03:16 PM by bierce

[bierce]

Seems like McCaffery was not ready to quit.  He was just hired to take over at Penn, which is now 20 years removed from the Dunphy Ivy League dynasty. 

Martelli was hired by VCU. 

Edited Thursday at 07:03 PM by bierce

[bierce]

Willard missed a team dinner earlier this week.  Does he fly back with the team or head straight to Philly by himself? 

[bierce]

Willard was booed by MD fans while entering the arena tonight.  MD is said to already be hunting for a new coach.

Last time MD was in the S16 was in 2016.  Nice way to celebrate the return.

[bierce]

Willard meeting with Villanova today and expected to make decision tonight (if it hasn't already been made). 

[bierce]

UNM down to Eric Olen and Andy Kennedy.  The former is in his early 40s and took a DII team into DI and eventually took it to the NCAA tournament this year and lost a naibiter to Michigan.  The latter is in his late 50s and made 2 tournaments in 12 seasons at a P5 school and 2 more in 5 years at UAB.