{"id":21605,"date":"2026-02-28T00:04:28","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T00:04:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/coaching-carousel-names-to-watch\/"},"modified":"2026-02-28T00:04:28","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T00:04:28","slug":"coaching-carousel-names-to-watch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/coaching-carousel-names-to-watch\/","title":{"rendered":"Men\u2019s College Basketball\u2019s Coaching Carousel: Names to Know As Jobs Open"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<p>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\u2011blood jobs may be quieter, double\u2011digit openings at high\u2011major programs are possible this cycle, producing a trickle\u2011down of moves from top to mid\u2011level 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.<\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Multiple high\u2011major openings are possible this cycle; sources say double\u2011digit high\u2011major jobs could become available and create a cascade of hirings across levels.<\/li>\n<li>Josh Schertz (Saint Louis) is one of the most talked\u2011about names, valued for tactical acumen and success at Saint Louis, Indiana State and Lincoln Memorial.<\/li>\n<li>Travis Steele\u2019s Miami (Ohio) team is 29\u20130 this season, elevating his profile after a prior disappointing stint at Xavier and positioning him for higher\u2011level consideration.<\/li>\n<li>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\u2011major openings.<\/li>\n<li>Casey Alexander has posted 20+ wins for 10 consecutive seasons dating to Lipscomb and currently leads one of the Missouri Valley\u2019s strongest teams.<\/li>\n<li>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\u2011season title.<\/li>\n<li>Assistants with elevated profiles include Luke Murray (UConn), JR Blount (Iowa State) and Emanuel Dildy (Duke), each seen by evaluators as future head\u2011coaching candidates.<\/li>\n<li>Roster mobility, NIL considerations and recent athletic director movement (including departures such as Fernando Lovo leaving New Mexico\u2019s AD role) complicate hiring decisions and timing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Conference realignment and shifting competitive maps have also altered job appeal. Programs once viewed as safely mid\u2011major may now be positioned to compete for at\u2011large bids, while some historic league alignments have diminished the on\u2011court path at others. Athletic directors are balancing long\u2011term fits\u2014culture, recruiting pipelines and style of play\u2014with short\u2011term performance pressure from boosters and media scrutiny.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<h2>Main Event<\/h2>\n<p>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\u2011resourced programs outside the Power Five, and if Schertz continues to lead competitive performances \u2014 including any deep postseason run \u2014 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.<\/p>\n<p>Jerrod Calhoun, a disciple of Bob Huggins\u2019 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\u2011to\u2011coast recruiting reach expands the list of potential suitors.<\/p>\n<p>Casey Alexander\u2019s 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\u2011school 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\u2019s being mentioned for openings such as Kansas State and others reportedly in play.<\/p>\n<p>Travis Steele\u2019s turnaround at Miami (Ohio) \u2014 29\u20130 this season \u2014 has changed the narrative around his r\u00e9sum\u00e9 after a difficult head\u2011coaching spell at Xavier. That unbeaten run, and a recent 25\u2011win season, make Steele a candidate for programs seeking a blend of program\u2011building experience and redemption arc. Observers note that a timely mid\u2011level Power Five vacancy could produce interest in Steele as an \u2018\u2018outside\u2011the\u2011family\u2019\u2019 hire.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2011season title follow a successful transition from Division II upward; and Eric Olen (New Mexico), who arrived after a 30\u2011win season at UC San Diego and is working through a near\u2011complete rebuild while coping with administrative turnover.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; Implications<\/h2>\n<p>First, a wave of openings at the high\u2011major level would have a cascading effect. When a Power Five or comparable program hires a head coach, that vacancy frequently pulls candidates from mid\u2011majors, 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.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s\u2011and\u2011O\u2019s capabilities.<\/p>\n<p>Third, NIL and donor expectations complicate hires. Candidates who can promise local or national recruiting advantages \u2014 or who already have donor relationships \u2014 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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; Data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Coach<\/th>\n<th>Current Team<\/th>\n<th>Notable Stat<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Josh Schertz<\/td>\n<td>Saint Louis<\/td>\n<td>Built reputation across DII and mid\u2011majors<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Travis Steele<\/td>\n<td>Miami (Ohio)<\/td>\n<td>29\u20130 this season<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Casey Alexander<\/td>\n<td>Belmont<\/td>\n<td>10 straight 20+ win seasons<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Jerrod Calhoun<\/td>\n<td>Utah State<\/td>\n<td>Regular NCAA\u2011tournament contender<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Joe Gallo<\/td>\n<td>Merrimack<\/td>\n<td>NEC winner; MAAC regular\u2011season title<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The table above highlights select r\u00e9sum\u00e9s and measurable achievements. These metrics\u2014season records, conference titles and program turnaround\u2014are 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.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; Quotes<\/h2>\n<p>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\u2011term fit; the quotes below summarize reporting and reaction in the marketplace rather than attributing new public statements to specific individuals.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Expect a busy spring; openings at the top usually create a domino effect that reaches dozens of programs.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Sports Illustrated reporting<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>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\u2019 ability to recruit instantly.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Assistants with Power Five championship experience are getting phone calls they wouldn\u2019t have a few years ago.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Conference analyst (summarizing market reaction)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Analysts point to assistants such as Luke Murray (UConn) and Emanuel Dildy (Duke) as examples of staff members whose resumes now create immediate head\u2011coaching interest. The pathway from top assistant to head coach is shortening in several evaluations as ADs seek ready\u2011to\u2011go tacticians.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Stability remains the premium. Some athletic directors will wait for the right cultural fit rather than chase headlines.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Industry watcher<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>That cautionary view helps explain why some successful mid\u2011major coaches\u2014James Jones at Yale, for instance\u2014are unlikely to depart unless the institutional match is clear and long\u2011term support is guaranteed.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Explainer: What drives modern coaching movement?<\/summary>\n<p>Three interlocking factors accelerate hires today: transfer\u2011portal dynamics, NIL finance and administrative turnover. The transfer portal changes roster volatility, so incoming coaches must be adept at attracting transfers quickly. NIL resources influence a program\u2019s marketability to recruits and transfers and can make some mid\u2011majors suddenly competitive. Athletic directors\u2019 priorities\u2014whether immediate wins or culture building\u2014influence whether a hire is tactician\u2011driven or relationship\u2011driven. Finally, conference realignment reshapes perceived job ceilings and can either deter or attract candidates depending on geographic and competitive implications.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Which exact high\u2011major jobs will open this cycle remains uncertain; sources expect multiple vacancies but final counts are not yet confirmed.<\/li>\n<li>Interest levels for specific coaches\u2014such as whether Josh Schertz or Tony Skinn will accept a high\u2011major offer\u2014are fluid and subject to negotiation.<\/li>\n<li>The timing and scale of NIL commitments tied to any particular hire have not been publicly disclosed and may change negotiations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>The coming weeks could produce a meaningful coaching cascade. If double\u2011digit high\u2011major openings materialize, programs from the Power Five to high\u2011end mid\u2011majors 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.<\/p>\n<p>For fans and observers, the key items to watch are threefold: which high\u2011major 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.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/college-basketball\/2026-mens-college-basketball-coaching-carousel-names-to-know-as-jobs-open\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sports Illustrated<\/a> \u2014 national sports media reporting<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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\u2011blood jobs may be quieter, double\u2011digit openings at high\u2011major programs are possible this cycle, producing a trickle\u2011down of moves from top to mid\u2011level programs. This story profiles &#8230; <a title=\"Men\u2019s College Basketball\u2019s Coaching Carousel: Names to Know As Jobs Open\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/coaching-carousel-names-to-watch\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Men\u2019s College Basketball\u2019s Coaching Carousel: Names to Know As Jobs Open\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21601,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Men\u2019s College Basketball Coaching Carousel \u2014 Names to Know | Sports Illustrated","rank_math_description":"As March nears, a potential double\u2011digit high\u2011major shakeup could set off a broad coaching carousel. Profiles of the head and assistant coaches most likely to move.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"coaching carousel,college basketball,Josh Schertz,Travis Steele,assistant coaches","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21605","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21605","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21605"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21605\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21601"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21605"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21605"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21605"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}