Coaching Carousel 2025

[Walter]

Always hated Keatts. He stole Luke from us.

 

[GMU79]

Always hated Keatts. He stole Luke from us.

And got lucky as heck at the end of last season.

 

[Falco]

makes me wonder if there is something else at play here????

They wanted him gone last year but they made that crazy conference tournament run then March madness run.

 

[Pablo]

'Meant to be': FSU hires Loucks as hoops coach

Luke Loucks will succeed Leonard Hamilton as Florida State men's basketball coach, signing a five-year deal. "It's like it was meant to be," Loucks said.

www.espn.com

McGeehan's contract not renewed at Campbell - HoopDirt

Director of Athletics Hannah Bazemore has announced a change in leadership of the Campbell men’s basketball program. Kevin McGeehan‘s contract will not be renewed, and after 12 seasons as head coach at Campbell, he has been relieved of his duties. “After thorough evaluation, it was apparent that...

hoopdirt.com

Penn hoops coach Donahue out after 9 seasons

University of Pennsylvania head basketball coach Steve Donahue is out after nine seasons, the school announced Monday. The Quakers, whose season ended with 95-71 loss to Princeton, finished 8-19 overall, 4-10 in the league.

www.espn.com

REPORT: Bellarmine's Davenport to retire - HoopDirt

According to a Jeff Goodman / Field of 68 report, Bellarmine head men’s basketball coach Scott Davenport intends to retire. Davenport has spent the past 20 seasons at Bellarmine, and oversaw their transition to D1 back in 2020. He has gone 426-197 (.684) during his tenure with the Knights. Doug...

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Quannas White named Head Basketball Coach at Louisiana Lafayette - HoopDirt

Quannas White, a New Orleans native who is regarded as one of the nation’s top recruiters while at the University of Houston, was named the 15th head coach in Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Men’s Basketball history, in an announcement on Monday by Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Bryan...

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Engles steps down as Head Basketball Coach at Columbia - HoopDirt

Columbia University head men’s basketball coach Jim Engles will step down from his role, effective immediately, Campbell Family Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education Peter Pilling announced Monday. “Columbia has meant so much to me, and I’ve given everything I have to make...

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REPORT: La Salle expected to hire Radford's Nichols - HoopDirt

According to a Jeff Goodman / Field of 68 report, La Salle is expected to name Radford’s Darris Nichols as their new head men’s basketball coach. Nichols has been at Radford for the past four seasons, where he has gone 68-63 (.519), including a 20-13 mark this season. More on this one once it...

hoopdirt.com

Sources: La Salle hiring Radford coach Nichols

La Salle is hiring Radford's Darris Nichols as its next head men's basketball coach, sources told ESPN.

www.espn.com

La Salle University Names Darris Nichols Head Men’s Basketball Coach - La Salle University Athletics

Philadelphia, PA - La Salle University President Daniel J. Allen, Ph.D., and Vice President of Athletics and Recreation and Director of Athletics Ashwin Puri announced

goexplorers.com

"A press conference to introduce Nichols will be held on Monday, March 24, at 10 a.m., at John E. Glaser Arena."

 

[Walter]

An underwhelming hire by the Explorers, but I didn't expect much from them. He wasn't especially successful in the Big South so not sure why he would be successful in the A10.

 

[GMU79]

An underwhelming hire by the Explorers, but I didn't expect much from them. He wasn't especially successful in the Big South so not sure why he would be successful in the A10.

You beat me to it. I'd say a meh hire.
Although you never know how it will play out.

 

[jessej]

An underwhelming hire by the Explorers, but I didn't expect much from them. He wasn't especially successful in the Big South so not sure why he would be successful in the A10.

could this be a monetary issue?
as in this is the best they could afford?
unsure of any of his ties to LaSalle

 

[Verdad]

could this be a monetary issue?
as in this is the best they could afford?
unsure of any of his ties to LaSalle

You would think they had him targeted with how quickly the announcement was made (or maybe schools are moving up their coaching searches due to NIL, etc.)

 

[mkaufman1]

An underwhelming hire by the Explorers, but I didn't expect much from them. He wasn't especially successful in the Big South so not sure why he would be successful in the A10.

Yeah I’m pretty confused by it too. Not the fit that I would think they’d go for but let them prove me wrong.

I suspect his price tag is not overly pricy and perhaps that’s what they could do at this juncture.

 

[psyclone]

More detail on Nichols' background.

"Nichols was arrested in February 2023 and eventually pleaded guilty after being charged with driving under the influence. Nichols was briefly suspended by Radford and returned to coaching the team during its postseason run. Nichols, according to the Roanoke Times, returned to court later that year after a “positive reading on an ignition interlock device that tests for the presence of alcohol,” according to the Roanoke Times. That charge was later dismissed."

Seems like the DUI would be a red flag and if he has an ignition interlock device on his car, it doesn't sound like to me that this is his first offense.

MSN

 

[GMU79]

More detail on Nichols' background.

"Nichols was arrested in February 2023 and eventually pleaded guilty after being charged with driving under the influence. Nichols was briefly suspended by Radford and returned to coaching the team during its postseason run. Nichols, according to the Roanoke Times, returned to court later that year after a “positive reading on an ignition interlock device that tests for the presence of alcohol,” according to the Roanoke Times. That charge was later dismissed."

Seems like the DUI would be a red flag and if he has an ignition interlock device on his car, it doesn't sound like to me that this is his first offense.

MSN

I certainly do believe in second chances. All of us make mistakes. But if this is continual behavior, he might need help more than he needs the pressures of big time basketball...which might only exacerbate the problem.

 

[Pablo]

OFFICIAL: Doug Davenport named Head Basketball Coach at Bellarmine - HoopDirt

Bellarmine University athletics director Scott Wiegandt today announced that men’s basketball assistant coach Doug Davenport has been named the 12th head coach in program history. “Doug has proven during his time at Bellarmine, both in four seasons as a player and in nine seasons as a coach...

hoopdirt.com

 

[jruby]

I actually think moving from vcu to nc state is at best a lateral move for Odom. Maybe root for vcu to overpay Odom to keep him and deplete some of the school's athletic funding leaving less for players?

I would argue UVA is worse than both vcu and NC state by a lot. How do you even recruit to UVA? They don't want kids without grades and it's a very tough place to win. What Tony Bennett did there is not valued nearly enough. I highly doubt anyone wins there again anytime soon. Took a very unique set of players and style of play.

vcu is a bad academic school no two ways about it. They are 100% all in on hoops and not much else. Where the hell their money comes from, I have no clue. NOVA mom and dad's student fees? It's not their fans. The school is clearly going to have to pay their players.

So while I agree in the end there's likely an easier path to a long career at vcu, they are never pulling 4 and 5 star recruits and winning 1 or 2 tournament games is likely the ceiling at vcu. Not sure you are even making the tournament at UVA though.....

makes me wonder if there is something else at play here????

What? haha he had 8 years. He mised the Tournament 5 out of 8 years. He had 2 of the absolute worst seasons in school history. Failing to make the ACC tournament is a joke. They have the 26th most wins in college basketball history and the 39th highest winning percentages. Their expectations are little higher than most.

To be fair vcu is 13th all time winning percentage, the difference is the ACC wins national titles and has dominated college basketball until recently. Would vcu have that same percentage playing in the ACC? Probably not.

While I agree it sucks playing in the shadows of Duke and UNC, how many Schools have 4 sweet 16s in the last 20 years? Not many....... Problem is Duke and UNC have like 10 Final 4's haha and multiple national titles. Expectations are different there than vcu. It's beat Duke and UNC, not make the tournament 50% of the time.

 

[Walter]

Virginia is coveted by both the SEC and the Big 10. They will be in a superconference within a decade

 

[Dawgs99]

Virginia us coveted by both the SEC and the Big 10. They will be in a superconference within a decade

Also some of the obstacles to success at UVA have been mitigated by relaxing academics rules around transfer students. Make no mistake about it, the school and its large donor base care more about mens hoops than any other program at the school. They will be good again in no time and Ryan Odom is right at the top of their wish list.....right next to Shaka Smart.

 

[Patriot8]

I would argue UVA is worse than both vcu and NC state by a lot. How do you even recruit to UVA? They don't want kids without grades and it's a very tough place to win. What Tony Bennett did there is not valued nearly enough. I highly doubt anyone wins there again anytime soon. Took a very unique set of players and style of play.

vcu is a bad academic school no two ways about it. They are 100% all in on hoops and not much else. Where the hell their money comes from, I have no clue. NOVA mom and dad's student fees? It's not their fans. The school is clearly going to have to pay their players.

So while I agree in the end there's likely an easier path to a long career at vcu, they are never pulling 4 and 5 star recruits and winning 1 or 2 tournament games is likely the ceiling at vcu. Not sure you are even making the tournament at UVA though.....


What? haha he had 8 years. He mised the Tournament 5 out of 8 years. He had 2 of the absolute worst seasons in school history. Failing to make the ACC tournament is a joke. They have the 26th most wins in college basketball history and the 39th highest winning percentages. Their expectations are little higher than most.

To be fair vcu is 13th all time winning percentage, the difference is the ACC wins national titles and has dominated college basketball until recently. Would vcu have that same percentage playing in the ACC? Probably not.

While I agree it sucks playing in the shadows of Duke and UNC, how many Schools have 4 sweet 16s in the last 20 years? Not many....... Problem is Duke and UNC have like 10 Final 4's haha and multiple national titles. Expectations are different there than vcu. It's beat Duke and UNC, not make the tournament 50% of the time.

 

[Pablo]

Adam Nelson
@HD_DirtKing

Average # of D1 coaching changes over the past 4 yrs is 63.25.

Last season was 68 - up from 61 the year before.

I think it’s going to be another big number this year.

Setting the O/U at 67.5.

Buckle up. This week will be a busy one…

11:58 AM · Mar 9, 2025

 

[jruby]

Virginia is coveted by both the SEC and the Big 10. They will be in a superconference within a decade

That's a whole different can of worms if that were too happen thats the end of the ACC forever and likely creates the Big 10 and Sec as pro teams and everyone else plays under NCAA. TBD if that actually happens.

But does bring up the point of waiting and holding out for a BIG10 or Sec school that already has the money. ACC is very up in the air right now as to what happens. What happens with Scholarships, do schools cut women's sports and just start to pay players under NIL going through the large loop hole avoiding Title IX all together? There isn't a straight forward answer or path to what actually happens right now......

 

[Pablo]

Minnesota fires Johnson after 4 years as coach

Ben Johnson had served as Minnesota coach since 2021-22 but was unable to return the Gophers to the NCAA tournament.

www.espn.com

"Minnesota fired men's basketball coach Ben Johnson on Thursday after four years of repeatedly rebuilding rosters at his alma mater without coming close to an NCAA tournament appearance as the program fell behind in the rugged and expanded Big Ten.

Johnson had two seasons remaining on his contract, which calls for a $2.92 million buyout. His annual salary was $1.95 million, the lowest in the 18-team league.

The Gophers finished 15-17 after losing 72-64 to Northwestern on Wednesday in the first round of the conference tournament. Minnesota dropped five of its final six games of the season."

 

[Pablo]

UVA won't keep interim HC Sanchez, starts search

Ron Sanchez, who went 15-17 as the interim head coach at Virginia, will not be retained as the Cavaliers begin their search for a new men's basketball coach.

www.espn.com

REPORT: Murray State to hire Creighton Assistant Ryan Miller as next Head Basketball Coach - HoopDirt

According to multiple reports this morning, including one from Jon Rothstein, Murray State is expected to hire Creighton assistant Ryan Miller as their next head basketball coach. Miller is in his fourth season at Creighton, and has also been an assistant at TCU, UNLV, Auburn New Mexico, and...

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