As expected, this year’s coaching changes in the Power Five basketball conferences have seen schools looking to the men’s NCAA tournament for new hires with a proven track record of success in both regular and postseason play. Among the nine major-conference hires with prior experience as head coaches in college, eight had led teams to this year’s tournament, leading to some interesting situations with new coaches like Will Wade at North Carolina State and Kevin Willard at Villanova.
The strategy of hiring coaches with tournament experience seems to be a solid one. Six of the head coaches in this year’s Elite Eight had previously guided different schools to tournament appearances, with only Michigan State’s Tom Izzo and Duke’s Jon Scheyer being promoted from assistant roles.
It remains to be seen if this year’s new coaching hires can replicate their success in their new positions. With two vacancies still open at Texas A&M and West Virginia, here is a ranking of the major-conference coaching changes for 2021:
1. Will Wade, North Carolina State
Despite his past controversies, Will Wade has a strong winning record, as seen during his tenure at McNeese State where his team went 58-11 in two seasons. Wade has experience leading teams like Virginia Commonwealth and LSU to tournament appearances and is expected to bring North Carolina State immediate improvement with his recruiting prowess and style of play.
2. Kevin Willard, Villanova
Willard’s successful coaching career has been overshadowed by his exit from Maryland. He led Iona and Seton Hall to tournament appearances and will now have the opportunity to rebuild Villanova with additional resources.
3. Sean Miller, Texas
After a successful stint at Arizona, Miller returned to Xavier and now joins Texas with a wealth of experience, including three Elite Eight berths. His experience and success make him a strong fit for a Texas team aiming to establish itself in the competitive SEC.
4. Buzz Williams, Maryland
Williams, coming from Texas A&M, has a history of leading teams to the tournament, including an Elite Eight run with Marquette. His consistent coaching style brings stability to Maryland and sets the stage for continued success.
It will be intriguing to see how these new coaching hires will fare in their respective programs as they aim to make their mark in the college basketball landscape.
5. Ben McCollum from Iowa has a strong track record in basketball success, including winning four Division II national championships at Northwest Missouri State. He had an impressive season at Drake, leading the Bulldogs to a Missouri Valley championship and 31 wins. With his potent offensive style and history of success, McCollum is a promising hire for the Hawkeyes.
6. Ryan Odom of Virginia made headlines in 2018 when he led No. 16 Maryland-Baltimore County to a historic upset over No. 1 Virginia in the tournament. He has since led two other programs to the tournament, including Utah State and VCU. Odom’s experience and success make him a solid choice as the permanent replacement for Tony Bennett at Virginia.
7. Richard Pitino’s coaching career has been diverse, starting with success at Florida International before a challenging tenure at Minnesota. However, he found success at New Mexico, leading the team to consecutive tournament appearances. Pitino’s experience and recent accomplishments make him a valuable addition to Xavier.
8. Niko Medved, a Minnesota native, has a proven track record of success at Drake and Colorado State. He has consistently led his teams to tournament appearances and conference championships, demonstrating his coaching abilities and experience in rebuilding programs. Medved’s skills make him a strong candidate to elevate Minnesota’s program.
9. Darian DeVries, formerly of Drake and West Virginia, has a successful coaching record and has excelled at building strong programs. With his experience and leadership, DeVries has the potential to guide Indiana to success, despite his limited major-conference experience. His lower-profile hire could be just what the Hoosiers need to reach their full potential.
10. Alex Jensen, a former NBA assistant coach and standout player at Utah, brings a wealth of basketball knowledge and experience to his coaching role. With his familiarity with the program and success at various levels of basketball, Jensen is well-equipped to lead Utah to success and navigate roster turnover in the competitive landscape of college basketball.
Miami’s new assistant coach, Jai Lucas, has made a name for himself as a top recruiter in the nine years he’s been in coaching. Having worked under prominent figures like Rick Barnes, Shaka Smart, John Calipari, and Jon Scheyer, Lucas has quickly risen in the coaching ranks. After Miami’s recent success in the Elite Eight and Final Four, the team has struggled to stay in the national spotlight. The question of whether Lucas can implement his strategies, rebuild the team, and return the Hurricanes to prominence looms large as one of the key storylines of the ACC offseason.
