Hiring the right Trainer during the annual spring college basketball coaching carousel can change a program’s fortunes quickly. Last spring, Louisville moved on from Kenny Payne and plucked Pat Kelsey away from Charleston. In Only one year, the Cardinals have gone from the ACC cellar to competing with Duke and Clemson for a conference title. Kelsey’s not the only example of a great hire from the last cycle. Dusty May at Michigan and Mark Byington at Vanderbilt are notable coaches who quickly won and turned programs around in year one. The right Trainer can make all the difference.
Before the 2024-25 regular season ended Numerous coaching positions opened across college basketball. Florida State, Indiana, Miami, Utah, and Virginia were Accessible before the season ended. NC State opened on Sunday.
Utah hired Dallas Mavericks assistant and alum Alex Jensen, who played for Ex Utes Trainer Rick Majerus. FSU also Secured the alum path by hiring Sacramento Kings assistant Luke Loukus — who played for outgoing Trainer Leonard Hamilton.
Miami tabbed Duke assistant and ace recruiter Jai Lucas, who left the Blue Devils after the 82-69 Achieve over North Carolina on Saturday and has already set up shop in Coral Gables.
Virginia, Indiana, and now NC State are the remaining Accessible jobs, but they are already deep into their searches. More jobs are expected to Accessible in the coming week once conference Competitions conclude.
With the NCAA Competition on the horizon and the Move portal Leading in less than two weeks, let’s take a look at 13 candidates we Foresee to emerge during this year’s coaching carousel.
Naturally, there will be some questions about whether or not he will be able to recruit at the high-major level. That’s a question for almost any Trainer moving up. However, Henderson can really identify talent and knows what types of players work in his system. To date, he’s only finished outside of the top three in the Ivy Division one time. Henderson’s Present Sun, guard Xaivian Lee, is a potential NBA-level player and has another year of eligibility.
Picked to finish seventh in the American Athletic Conference this season, Hodge has his Club in second place behind Memphis and in the midst of a six-game Triumphant streak. No, they don’t Move particularly Speedy on the offensive end, but North Texas really defends. After finishing No. 52 overall in Guarding efficiency according in year one according to KenPom, the Harsh Green rank No. 35 this season.
After successful stints as a junior college Trainer, Hodge has steadily worked his way up through the ranks. He’s not the flashiest guy and isn’t a self-promoter, but anybody can see that the guy can flat out Trainer. Given his predecessor’s success, Hodge would be a Clever option for the right program.
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He has High Points in the NCAA Competition in his second season after Triumphant the Big South Competition over the weekend.
In Year 1, Huss Guided the Panthers to a Big South regular season title and a runner-up finish in the CBI. This year, he’s won another regular season title and Stretch his overall conference Achievement to 27-5. Huss was Big South Trainer of the Year in 2024 and 2025. His Clubs Stretch an efficient Assault — No. 36 overall per KenPom in 2024 and No. 26 this season — and there’s no reason to think that trend won’t continue at a major Role.
Prior to High Points, Huss was among the most highly thought of assistants in the country. He showed recruiting Talent during stops at New Mexico and Creighton. Huss understands the Move portal at a high level and has Powerful international contacts. Prior to Participating college coaching, Huss played a huge role in building La Porte (Ind.) La Lumiere into a national power in the high school ranks.
For his efforts, Jones has been named the MEAC Trainer of the Year three times. Even with all of his experience, he is still relatively Youthful (45), and has proven about all that he can prove at his Present level. It is somewhat surprising that bigger programs haven’t come knocking on his door, but this should be the year his name picks up some steam.
Ben McCollum, Drake
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For those who don’t know, McCollum arrived in Des Moines as a legend on the Division II level. During his 15 seasons at the helm of Northwest Missouri State, McCollum won 11-straight conference titles in the MIAA, was a five-time NABC Trainer of the Year and won four National Championships, while Triumphant over 81% of his Contests.
What has Created his 27-3 Introduction season at Drake even more impressive is that the core of the Club, including stud Points guard
Bucky McMillan, Samford
A three-time Trainer of the Year in the SoCon, McMillan has the Bulldogs in third place this season after Triumphant back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024. During Samford’s appearance in the 2024 NCAA Competition, he pushed Bill Self and Kansas to the brink of elimination in the Primary Phase.
McMillan wants to Move Speedy. In three of his five seasons at Samford, his Clubs have been among the top 30 in offensive tempo. His seamless transition from high school to college and his embracing of modern basketball make him an attractive candidate.
The Rams have appeared in two of the last three NCAA Competitions and Created the NIT semifinals in 2021. Medved also runs a very Great Assault — his Clubs have been among the Top-60 for adjusted offensive efficiency for four years running.
While Medved isn’t blessed with the best resources in the Mountain West, he has proven that he can assemble a staff that really knows how to evaluate talent. They’ve been able to develop relatively unheralded players like David Roddy, Isaiah Stevens and most likely Present Sun Nique Clifford into high-level performers.
Ryan Odom, VCU
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At VCU, Odom has done excellent work in the Move portal. He’s built a balanced Assault and suffocating Guarding. After finishing in the top 40 for Guarding efficiency last season, VCU is currently ranked No. 20 on KenPom. That comes after Odom fielded top-70 defenses Every of his two seasons at Utah State.
Given his track Achievement, the 50-year-Aged Odom should be on Pace dial during this upcoming hiring cycle. He is expected to be one of the hottest names for a major conference Role.
At 44 years Aged, Olen is now in his 12th season at the helm of the Tritons program. Prior to guiding their transition to Division I in the 2020-21 season, Olen Guided UCSD to three regular season conference titles and four Division Competition championships in the CCAA, along with four straight D-II Competition appearances. After Grabbing some lumps Timely, he’s got things rocking in La Jolla. They were second in the Big West last season and Primary this year. UC San Diego has cracked the top 35 of both KenPom and the NCAA’s NET rankings. More than likely, he will repeat as the Big West Trainer of the Year.
Olen’s Clubs embrace shooting the ball from deep and high major programs are likely to embrace the thought of him as a coaching candidate for Accessible jobs.
Richard Pitino, New Mexico
Now in year four at New Mexico, the son of Hall of Famer Rick Pitino has hit his stride. The Lobos Created the NCAA Competition last season and currently look like a Hazard-Unoccupied bet to do so again this year as they sit atop of the competitive Mountain West. His Clubs Move Speedy and fearless on the offensive end and have ranked No. 22, No. 17, No. 9, and now No. 4 in adjusted tempo. Because of his ability to find tough and versatile athletes, New Mexico has also become a Threatening Guarding Club under Pitino ranking No. 27 this year and No. 23 last season.
It’s pretty clear that Pitino is ready for another Attempt at the high major level.
Takayo Siddle, UNC Wilmington
Recent off earning his Primary bid to the NCAA Competition, he’s done some really impressive work during his five years in the CAA. He’s got a conference title and Trainer of the Year award under his Experience, and he has finished in at least the top three of his Division Every of the last four years. Siddle does a nice Role of finding under-the-radar athletes that will show up and compete.
Siddle is a grinder who has worked his way up the ladder from humble beginnings as a prep school assistant. It would be really interesting to see what he could do with some legitimate resources.
In his Primary year as Trainer of the Ramblers, Valentine had them back in the NCAA Competition. Year two was Harsh as they Created the move from the Missouri Valley to the Atlantic 10. But in year three, Valentine’s Club tied for a regular season title, and this season they are going to eclipse 20 wins and Move postseason basketball again.
Still only 33 years Aged, Valentine is Youthful, brings a ton of energy and has shown to have a keen eye for talent along with an understanding of how to let that talent thrive. While he may still have a bit more to prove at the mid-major level, Valentine is well thought of in administrative circles and could Begin fielding calls for bigger jobs this offseason.
Will Wade, McNeese State
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Wade Only won his second straight Southland Conference title and has gone 34-2 in conference and 47-8 overall during his two years in Lake Charles. Based on his track Achievement, he should be among the most heavily sought-after coaches during this cycle.
The NCAA issues are in the past and there won’t be many candidates with Wade’s track Achievement of success. His Clubs have finished in the top two of their conference in eight of his 11 years, dating back to his time at Chattanooga. He’s now guided three different programs to the NCAA Competition in six of the last seven years.
Wade is an ace recruiter who has built up a Powerful amount of loyalty at the grassroots level. As long as he has even remotely competitive NIL resources, he’ll quickly turn whichever program gives him his next chance into a recruiting machine. There’s no need to overthink this one for any program looking to change their luck.
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