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| Hubert Davis, North Carolina |
There is still plenty left to be decided in the 2024-25 college basketball season as we count down the few remaining weeks until the start of the NCAA Tournament. Bubble teams are still working to earn their way into the field, others are jockeying for position on the seed lines, and conference titles and awards add additional layers of intrigue. Even with so much to be decided, several programs are already looking ahead to 2025-26 after disappointing seasons, including the likes of Indiana, Florida State, and Miami, all of whom will be looking for new head coaches this offseason. Add in the possibility that North Carolina, who is on the outside looking in when it comes to their NCAA Tournament hopes, could also move on from head man Hubert Davis, this could be among the most fascinating coaching carousels in recent memory. Predicting who takes over at each job post is increasingly difficult in the context of modern college basketball, but keep your eye on these names as we inch towards the offseason.
Florida State Seminoles
Florida State and Leonard Hamilton are officially parting ways following the conclusion of this season, ending a two-decade run of Hamilton leading the program. It doesn't come as much of a shock, considering the Seminoles are heading to their fourth straight season without a postseason berth, but it does open a significant job in the ACC. It's easy to forget that FSU under Hamilton was one of the league's most consistent programs in the 2010s, going to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament three times in four years from 2018-2021, with their lone miss being the COVID year that they finished top overall in the ACC. Whoever takes this job gets an opportunity at a major program with ample resources, albeit a somewhat uncertain future. It seems a near certainty Florida State will be joining another conference in a matter of years, but where and when remains unclear.
Projected Replacement: Dennis Gates, Missouri Head Coach
Dennis Gates is going to be a name on plenty of shortlists after engineering a remarkable turnaround at Missouri this winter. After going 0-18 inside the SEC with the Tigers last year, Gates has them in the thick of things in the top conference in college basketball, with a likely Top 5 seed locked in. At just 45 years of age, he's a rising name in the coaching world and despite a hefty buyout, programs like Florida State could certainly come calling. It's not just the resume of Gates that will have the Seminoles interested - he's a former assist with the program under Hamilton who was on the staff in Tallahassee for nearly a decade. He was around during a highly successful period in the program and knows what it takes to build and sustain a winner here. It won't be easy wrestling him away from Missouri, and FSU is going to have to spend big to make it happen. But, the program has the resources to do it, and it feels like a logical direction for the program to go in after such a long and fruitful time with Hamilton in charge.
Other Names to Watch: Sam Cassell (Boston Celtics assistant); Luke Loucks (Sacramento Kings assistant); Bucky McMillan (Samford Head Coach); Andy Enfield (SMU Head Coach)
Indiana Hoosiers
The Mike Woodson experiment is officially coming to an end when the 2024-25 season comes to a close, as the 66-year old head coach has already announced his intention to step down. It marks the end of an era that did have some bright spots, but was overall a disappointment for the rabid Hoosier faithful. Woodson did enjoy more success than his predecessor, Archie Miller, by delivering Indiana a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances, but an 78-51 overall record and sub-.500 mark in the Big Ten is not going to cut it in Bloomington. This season in particular has been a massive disappointment after the Hoosiers were one of the biggest NIL transfer portal spenders over the last offseason. Even if this team somehow manages to gain entry into the NCAA Tournament, which they are still very much alive, it's become clear the program needs a new figurehead to bring them into a new era of college sports.
Projected Replacement: Dusty May, Michigan Head Coach
(Note* = Published prior to May's extension with Michigan. Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard now looks to be the favorite for the job.)
I've gone back and forth on whether I truly believe Dusty May will leave Michigan after one season to take over at his alma mater. It's certainly not a lock, but I do think that there are several factors that could make this a real possibility. First off, he's going to get paid in a big way if he were to make the jump. Woodson was the third highest paid coach in the Big Ten at $4.2 million, much more than what May currently makes at Michigan at approximately $3.75 million. One would imagine the Hoosiers would pay top dollar to bring May home, and he would immediately become one of the highest paid coaches in the conference. Secondly, May would have an NIL war chest at his disposal at Indiana, even more so than what he has at Michigan. He would have the resources he needs to craft the exact roster he wants from the get-go, a must in today's NIL world. Lastly, the emotional factor should not be undersold here. May is an Indiana native who served as student manager under the late great Bob Knight. The opportunity to return home as the prodigal son has to be something that has been on his mind for some time, going back to his time working up his way as an assistant head coach through the college ranks. It just feels like there is something real here, and it would not come as a shock for May to make the in-conference jump.
Other Names to Watch: Chris Beard (Ole Miss Head Coach); Will Wade (McNeese State Head Coach); T.J. Otzelberger (Iowa State Head Coach); Ben McCollum (Drake Head Coach)
Miami Hurricanes
The first major job opening of this coaching carousel opened just a day after Christmas, when Jim Larranaga announced he was resigning his position after a decade-and-a-half in charge in Coral Gables. Considering the way things ended for Larranaga, it was clear Miami needed to bring in new blood at head coach, but that shouldn't overshadow what a resounding success his tenure ultimately was. He built a winning culture at a football school in a conference with several basketball heavyweights, a tenure that included a Final Four run in 2023. He leaves as the all-time winningest coach in program history, a legacy that whoever takes this job will have to live up to.
Projected Replacement: Will Wade, McNeese State Head Coach
I think the average college basketball fan may be surprised just how many big names are interested in this Miami job. It may always be considered a football school, but this is a program that is going to continue to be a major factor in the NIL world, located in one of the most desirable parts of the country, and in an ACC that feels wide open beyond Duke. The Hurricanes are going to be connected to some big names, but this feels like the right spot for Will Wade. The former LSU head coach was fired after significant NCAA Level I violations due to recruiting misconduct. However, the reality is that if you can win, you are going to get opportunities in big-time college basketball. Look no further than guys like Kelvin Sampson, Bruce Pearl, even Chris Beard - not only are they back at power conference jobs, they've been killing it at places not considered traditional basketball powers. Even with the baggage, Wade has done a superb job at McNeese State, fresh off their best season in program history, and looking for even more this spring. It's only a matter of time before he gets another big-name job, and it does feel like this would be the type of destination he would go for.
Other Names to Watch: Sean Miller (Xavier Head Coach); Anthony Grant (Dayton Head Coach); Shaka Smart (Marquette Head Coach); Richard Pitino (New Mexico Head Coach); Chris Caputo (George Washington Head Coach)
North Carolina Tar Heels
Hubert Davis had the unenviable task of replacing a living legend in Roy Williams, but four years later, his rollercoaster ride of a tenure has to be taking its toll on the North Carolina faithful. It's not that Davis hasn't seen any success as head coach - his improbable run to the National Championship Game in 2022, while spoiling Coach K's farewell tour in the process, will forever be remembered in Chapel Hill. But, beyond that, Davis is in danger of missing his second NCAA Tournament in four years and his only other trip saw the Tar Heels bow out in the Sweet 16 as a 1 seed. At most places, a 94-42 overall record should be worthy of praise, but the UNC job is a whole different animal, especially when you consider how down the ACC has been in recent years. Davis could still get the Tar Heels dancing this spring, and the most likely scenario is he does indeed get a fifth year. But more and more, he feels more like a mere transition at the head coaching position here than the long-term solution for one of the sport's bluest of bloods.
Projected Replacement: Nate Oats, Alabama Head Coach
Would North Carolina really go outside "the family" with their next basketball coach? It's hard to know. On one hand, the program almost certainly wants someone with ties to the university, but who would that be? No assistants or rising names in the coaching ranks stand out and a top name that was at least in play last time, Wes Miller, has torpedoed his chances with an unsuccessful run as Cincinnati head man. If North Carolina wants to keep pace with their Tobacco Road rival Duke, I think they have to go out and make a splash, and Alabama's Nate Oats would be just that. The 50-year head coach is the perfect mix of young, yet accomplished, after successful runs with the Tide and Buffalo Bulls prior. In the span of two decades, he's gone from an assistant at his Division III alma mater Maranatha Baptist, to one of the premier coaches in the sport. Much of his successful can be attributed to his forward-thinking and analytical approach to modern college basketball, embracing the fast-paced, three-point orientated offense of the day. He's done a tremendous job bringing talent to Alabama and with the resources and prestige of a school like UNC, he would be an absolute terror on the recruiting trail. Reeling him away from the Tide would be difficult, but UNC feels like a job he would absolutely say yes to - if the program is willing to take a chance on someone somewhat outside the box.
Other Names to Watch: Bruce Pearl (Auburn Head Coach); Chris Beard (Ole Miss Head Coach); Wes Miller (Cincinnati Head Coach); Jerry Stackhouse (Golden State Warriors assistant)
Syracuse Orange
The recent struggles of ACC heavyweights like North Carolina and Louisville have made it easy to forget there's another notable program in the conference who are themselves languishing near the bottom of the league: the Syracuse Orange. It was clear the Orange needed new blood at the coaching position towards the end of the Jim Boeheim years, as they went four straight seasons with below 20 wins from 2020-2023, but the replacement has not been pretty. Longtime assistant Adrian Autry currently has Syracuse sitting at 11-16 overall and just 5-11 inside the weakest ACC in a long time. They are primed for their first losing season 1969, when they were playing as an Independent and Boeheim wasn't even around yet. Perhaps Syracuse could be convinced to give Autry one more year, it is difficult to replace a legend. But, the program has felt far too lifeless for too long, and there's no reason this team should be near the bottom of this conference.
Projected Replacement: Gerry McNamara, Siena Head Coach
Would this be too much of a redux for Syracuse to go for if they do indeed move on from Autry? McNamara is another former longtime Orange assistant who was considered a frontrunner for the head coaching job before it eventually went to Autry. After serving as the associate head coach for one season, he bolted to Siena, and is currently 12-14 with the Saints. At the very least, McNamara would breathe some much-needed life into the program, and brings plenty of upside at 41 years of age. He seems like a more natural fit for this new era of college basketball than the old-school Autry, and seems like a coach who would do work on the recruiting trail. Now, with all that being said, Syracuse basketball isn't going to experience a turnaround unless the athletic department is committed to doing so. As amazing as it sounds considering their basketball history, the school seems to have invested in their football program in a significant way under Fran Brown, and it now looks to be their focus at they look ahead to the uncertain future of the ACC beyond 2025. McNamara would at least be affordable but given those factors, perhaps the administration waits and instead gives Autry one more year to figure this thing out.
Other Names to Watch: Greg Paulus (Niagara Head Coach); Luke Murray (UConn assistant); Mike Hopkins (Phoenix Suns assistant); Tony Skinn (George Mason Head Coach); Matt Langel (Colgate Head Coach)
Other Potential Openings
Arizona State Sun Devils (Bobby Hurley) -- Now one of the longest tenured coaches in the new-look Big 12, Bobby Hurley has been the Arizona State head man since 2015. In that span, he's taken the Sun Devils to the NCAA Tournament three times, but has also experienced five losing seasons. With ASU 3-7 inside the conference and almost sure to miss the postseason, it may be time for a change.
Boston College Eagles (Earl Grant) -- It may not be as high-profile as some of the other jobs in the ACC, but Boston College is almost sure to open this offseason. Earl Grant, who was a little bit of a strange hire at the time given his final few years at Charleston, is just 59-68 overall and a lowly 25-49 inside the conference while at BC.
Iowa Hawkeyes (Fran McCaffery) -- Iowa has been a consistent NCAA Tournament team under Fran McCaffery, but in the midst of a lost 2024-25 season, you have to be wondering whether the program is starting to tire of their long-time head man. McCaffery's prickly personality may work when the Hawkeyes are winning but when they're not, it adds to the frustration Hawkeye fans have felt over the years. McCaffery has coached countless stars in Iowa City, namely Luka Garza and Keegan Murray, and has yet to get the Hawkeyes to the NCAA Tournament's second weekend.
Minnesota Golden Gophers (Ben Johnson) -- Following an 0-6 start in the Big Ten, Ben Johnson and the Gophers have shown real fight down the stretch, and a recent sweep of the LA schools has them 6-9 in the league. The recent hot streak likely bought Johnson a fifth year, but with the roster set to turn over again, including the loss of star Dawson Garcia, 2025-26 looks like another long season in the Twin Cities. Is it time to start fresh?
Oklahoma Sooners (Porter Moser) -- Loyola-Chicago's 2018 Final Four run is beginning to feel like a lifetime ago. Of course, Porter Moser did more with the Ramblers than just the 2018 run - he won 188 games with the program. But, since taking the step up to Oklahoma, he's been unable to build a consistent winner in Norman, with the Sooners in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight season. Life hasn't gotten any easier in the SEC, with the Sooners sitting at 3-9 in the conference. It may be time for the program to cut its losses and look towards a young up-and-comer to take them into this new era of basketball.
Seton Hall Pirates (Shaheen Holloway) -- As head coach of Saint Peter's miraculous 2022 Elite Eight run, Shaheen Holloway will always have a spot in college basketball coaching lore, and his arrival at his alma mater was supposed to be the perfect marriage. Simply put, it has not worked out - the Pirates are 49-46 under his leadership, which has been punctuated by a dreadful 2024-25 that has them just 2-12 in the Big East. Holloway's connection to the university may get him another year, but it's going to be tough sledding turning this thing around in Year Four.
Villanova Wildcats (Kyle Neptune) -- It's been a tough slog for Jay Wright's successor. Kyle Neptune has gone just 50-45 overall with the Wildcats, and the 2024-25 has been particularly frustrating. Villanova has had several chances to get on the right side of the bubble and make an NCAA Tournament berth, but have continuously squandered it, including a loss to Seton Hall that may have been the final nail in the coffin. It feels highly unlikely Neptune gets a fourth year in charge with the Wildcats.
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