Men’s College Basketball’s Coaching Carousel: Names to Know As Jobs Open

As March approaches, college basketball appears headed into an active coaching carousel that could reshape rosters and recruiting across the sport. Sources tell Sports Illustrated that while the blue‑blood jobs may be quieter, double‑digit openings at high‑major programs are possible this cycle, producing a trickle‑down of moves from top to mid‑level programs. This story profiles the head coaches and assistants most widely discussed as likely candidates for vacancies and explains why their profiles matter for programs, regions and the transfer market. Expect a fluid period in the weeks ahead as teams, athletic directors and agents respond to any openings.

Key Takeaways

• Multiple high‑major openings are possible this cycle; sources say double‑digit high‑major jobs could become available and create a cascade of hirings across levels.
• Josh Schertz (Saint Louis) is one of the most talked‑about names, valued for tactical acumen and success at Saint Louis, Indiana State and Lincoln Memorial.
• Travis Steele’s Miami (Ohio) team is 29–0 this season, elevating his profile after a prior disappointing stint at Xavier and positioning him for higher‑level consideration.
• Jerrod Calhoun (Utah State) has stabilized programs from Youngstown State to Utah State, is a noted offensive mind and is projected to be in the mix for several high‑major openings.
• Casey Alexander has posted 20+ wins for 10 consecutive seasons dating to Lipscomb and currently leads one of the Missouri Valley’s strongest teams.
• Bryan Hodgson (South Florida) and Joe Gallo (Merrimack) have pushed programs into contention quickly; Hodgson leads the AAC early in his first year and Gallo followed NEC success with a MAAC regular‑season title.
• Assistants with elevated profiles include Luke Murray (UConn), JR Blount (Iowa State) and Emanuel Dildy (Duke), each seen by evaluators as future head‑coaching candidates.
• Roster mobility, NIL considerations and recent athletic director movement (including departures such as Fernando Lovo leaving New Mexico’s AD role) complicate hiring decisions and timing.

Background

The modern coaching carousel is shaped by three forces: the transfer portal, NIL economics and rapid administrative turnover. Transfer rules and roster churn mean new coaches often inherit partial rosters, so athletic directors prioritize tacticians who can quickly retool lineups. NIL money and donor expectations have raised the stakes for hires; some programs can now offer resources that previously belonged only to traditional power programs.

Conference realignment and shifting competitive maps have also altered job appeal. Programs once viewed as safely mid‑major may now be positioned to compete for at‑large bids, while some historic league alignments have diminished the on‑court path at others. Athletic directors are balancing long‑term fits—culture, recruiting pipelines and style of play—with short‑term performance pressure from boosters and media scrutiny.

Finally, recent AD moves and administrative instability can accelerate or delay searches. New athletic directors often seek their own hires, while those who inherit programs midcycle may value continuity. That dynamic helps explain why assistants with strong pedigrees and head coaches who have shown rapid program turnaround are being watched closely this spring.

Main Event

Josh Schertz has emerged as a headline name this cycle. His reputation for advanced preparation and adaptable game plans was forged at Lincoln Memorial and reinforced during stints at Indiana State and Saint Louis. Saint Louis sits among the better‑resourced programs outside the Power Five, and if Schertz continues to lead competitive performances — including any deep postseason run — his marketability will rise. Whether he opts to stay or accepts an elite opening will depend on the specific opportunities and the level of commitment from his current administration.

Jerrod Calhoun, a disciple of Bob Huggins’ style, rebuilt Youngstown State before moving to Utah State, where his team is again expected to reach the NCAA tournament. Calhoun is credited for efficient offense and strong portal navigation, and his Cincinnati ties have produced speculation about interest should that vacancy appear. His coast‑to‑coast recruiting reach expands the list of potential suitors.

Casey Alexander’s record is one of consistent winning: ten straight seasons with 20 or more victories across Lipscomb and Belmont. His teams are known for offensive fluidity and talent evaluation at the high‑school level. Alexander has resisted prior approaches from other programs, but a competitive job in a Power Five conference could prompt renewed interest from candidates, and he’s being mentioned for openings such as Kansas State and others reportedly in play.

Travis Steele’s turnaround at Miami (Ohio) — 29–0 this season — has changed the narrative around his résumé after a difficult head‑coaching spell at Xavier. That unbeaten run, and a recent 25‑win season, make Steele a candidate for programs seeking a blend of program‑building experience and redemption arc. Observers note that a timely mid‑level Power Five vacancy could produce interest in Steele as an ‘‘outside‑the‑family’’ hire.

Other head coaches drawing attention include Bryan Hodgson (South Florida), who has energized the AAC program in his first season after assistant success at Alabama; Joe Gallo (Merrimack), whose zone defense and recent MAAC regular‑season title follow a successful transition from Division II upward; and Eric Olen (New Mexico), who arrived after a 30‑win season at UC San Diego and is working through a near‑complete rebuild while coping with administrative turnover.

Analysis & Implications

First, a wave of openings at the high‑major level would have a cascading effect. When a Power Five or comparable program hires a head coach, that vacancy frequently pulls candidates from mid‑majors, which in turn prompts a second layer of movement. Athletic departments at all levels must therefore prepare contingency plans to avoid destabilizing roster construction during the critical recruiting and portal windows.

Second, assistant coaches with Power Five championship experience or deep regional ties will gain traction. Programs seeking rapid change often favor assistants who can recruit immediately and install a recognizable system. That places a premium on assistants who have worked on successful staffs and who combine recruiting networks with demonstrable X’s‑and‑O’s capabilities.

Third, NIL and donor expectations complicate hires. Candidates who can promise local or national recruiting advantages — or who already have donor relationships — will be more attractive to ADs under short timelines. Conversely, programs with limited NIL budgets may focus on coaches who can win via system and player development rather than transfer market spending.

Finally, timing and fit will outweigh headline value in many cases. Some candidates may decline opportunities this cycle if the institutional support, roster position or administrative vision do not align. Athletic directors who move quickly but without a clear plan risk short tenures and further churn; those who wait for cultural fits may achieve longer stability but risk losing top targets to faster offers.

Comparison & Data

The table above highlights select résumés and measurable achievements. These metrics—season records, conference titles and program turnaround—are the most commonly cited factors ADs examine during searches. They do not capture intangible measures such as institutional fit, booster relationships or NIL capacity, which can be decisive in final decisions.

Reactions & Quotes

Colleges, agents and analysts have been preparing for movement. Athletic departments interviewed for this report emphasized the strategic balancing act of hiring quickly versus hiring for long‑term fit; the quotes below summarize reporting and reaction in the marketplace rather than attributing new public statements to specific individuals.

“Expect a busy spring; openings at the top usually create a domino effect that reaches dozens of programs.”

Sports Illustrated reporting

That observation reflects multiple conversations with industry insiders who say the portal and NIL environment make quick replacements riskier. ADs told Sports Illustrated they are mapping successor lists internally to limit disruption and are evaluating candidates’ ability to recruit instantly.

“Assistants with Power Five championship experience are getting phone calls they wouldn’t have a few years ago.”

Conference analyst (summarizing market reaction)

Analysts point to assistants such as Luke Murray (UConn) and Emanuel Dildy (Duke) as examples of staff members whose resumes now create immediate head‑coaching interest. The pathway from top assistant to head coach is shortening in several evaluations as ADs seek ready‑to‑go tacticians.

“Stability remains the premium. Some athletic directors will wait for the right cultural fit rather than chase headlines.”

Industry watcher

That cautionary view helps explain why some successful mid‑major coaches—James Jones at Yale, for instance—are unlikely to depart unless the institutional match is clear and long‑term support is guaranteed.

Unconfirmed

• Which exact high‑major jobs will open this cycle remains uncertain; sources expect multiple vacancies but final counts are not yet confirmed.
• Interest levels for specific coaches—such as whether Josh Schertz or Tony Skinn will accept a high‑major offer—are fluid and subject to negotiation.
• The timing and scale of NIL commitments tied to any particular hire have not been publicly disclosed and may change negotiations.

Bottom Line

The coming weeks could produce a meaningful coaching cascade. If double‑digit high‑major openings materialize, programs from the Power Five to high‑end mid‑majors will feel the effect through successive hires, increased portal activity and shifts in recruiting priorities. Athletic directors should prepare layered succession plans to prevent prolonged instability.

For fans and observers, the key items to watch are threefold: which high‑major jobs open first, which candidates possess immediate recruiting pull and how quickly athletic departments can align on institutional fit and resources. Those elements will determine whether a hire stabilizes a program or simply restarts the carousel next season.

Sources

• Sports Illustrated — national sports media reporting