Jeff Borzello, ESPN Staff Writer 1y

Your comprehensive guide to the 2023 men's college basketball coaching hot seat

Men's College Basketball, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Texas Longhorns, Kentucky Wildcats, Syracuse Orange, West Virginia Mountaineers, Florida State Seminoles, Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, Duquesne Dukes, Marshall Thundering Herd, Old Dominion Monarchs, Green Bay Phoenix, Manhattan Jaspers, New Mexico State Aggies, North Carolina A&T Aggies, UT Arlington Mavericks, Wofford Terriers, California Golden Bears, UC Santa Barbara Gauchos, San José State Spartans, Georgetown Hoyas, Iona Gaels, Stanford Cardinal, Utah Valley Wolverines, Ole Miss Rebels, Florida Atlantic Owls, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Tulane Green Wave, Furman Paladins, Charleston Cougars, Clemson Tigers, St. John's Red Storm, Hofstra Pride, Fordham Rams, Bryant Bulldogs, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Washington Huskies, Arizona State Sun Devils, UCF Knights, Louisville Cardinals, Oregon State Beavers, NC State Wolfpack, Northwestern Wildcats, Pittsburgh Panthers, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Vanderbilt Commodores, South Florida Bulls, Wichita State Shockers, Temple Owls, Fresno State Bulldogs, Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, Ohio State Buckeyes, Penn State Nittany Lions, Kansas State Wildcats, Providence Friars, Wake Forest Demon Deacons, Saint Mary's Gaels, USC Trojans, Oral Roberts Golden Eagles, North Texas Mean Green, Colgate Raiders, Yale Bulldogs, Liberty Flames, Drake Bulldogs, VCU Rams, NW Missouri State Bearcats

For the second season in a row, the men's college basketball coaching carousel started spinning earlier than usual. Last year, it was Maryland and Louisville opening up long before the end of the season. In 2022-23, Texas and Notre Dame are already open. And that's just the big jobs; six other spots are also available or have interim coaches in charge. The days of waiting until March for the announcements to get rolling are over; the coaching merry-go-round is already going, and it won't stop for another month and a half.

With eight jobs already changing hands, we could see a busier overall year than in recent times. In 2020, fewer than 30 coaching changes were made. The 2021 cycle brought 57 job changes, while the number was 60 last year.

Texas holds the controls of the carousel. We'll dive further into this shortly, but the Longhorns making a big move could create a domino effect that completely changes everything. If current interim head coach Rodney Terry gets the job permanently, though, things could be quieter.

To get you prepared for the next six weeks of coaching machinations -- and, more importantly, the accompanying rumors, scuttlebutt and gossip -- here is a look at the biggest storylines, jobs and names to watch.

Jump to:
Big-picture storylines to watch | Jobs already open | Trending toward opening | Jobs I'm watching | One more year? | Seats that have cooled
| Others to watch | High-profile names | Mid-major names | Can they get back in?


Big-picture storylines to watch

1. How busy of a carousel should we expect?

With just 2½ weeks remaining until Selection Sunday, the carousel is still incredibly difficult to predict. You could make the argument only four of five jobs from the top eight leagues are guaranteed to open. But, as many as 15 programs could opt to make a move if things go a certain way down the stretch of the season. Texas is likely to be the biggest job to open. The one factor to take into consideration will be falling dominoes. Texas is likely to make a big-name hire from a big-time school, which would cause plenty of shifting down the line.

2. What will happen with John Calipari?

Of course, if Calipari leaves Kentucky for Texas, as was rumored several weeks ago, the carousel would go haywire. There seems to be some level of interest on both sides, according to sources, but Texas hasn't advanced too far in its search, and it's premature to say Calipari is even involved. The heat on Calipari's seat from the Kentucky fans has also cooled considerably in recent weeks as the Wildcats went from the wrong side of the bubble to perhaps wearing home jerseys in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Firing him was not really a feasible option anyway; his buyout is in the $40 million range.

3. Jim Boeheim and other retirement possibilities

Boeheim's looming retirement is the elephant in the room, although he told ESPN's Pete Thamel earlier this month he would "probably" return next season. The 78-year-old Syracuse coach has been linked to retirement talk for nearly a decade, but his comments indicate another year could be in the cards. Besides Boeheim, Florida State's Leonard Hamilton and West Virginia's Bob Huggins are potential coaches to watch -- but Hamilton recently told College Hoops Today he has more work to do in Tallahassee, while Huggins has West Virginia poised for a return to the NCAA tournament. Outside of the big names, Coastal Carolina's Cliff Ellis, Duquesne's Keith Dambrot, Marshall's Dan D'Antoni and Old Dominion's Jeff Jones are possibilities.

4. Does Chris Beard get back into the mix this year?

Beard was suspended by Texas in December and fired less than a month later, following his arrest on a felony domestic violence charge. Last week, the Travis County District Attorney moved to dismiss the charges. Where does that leave Beard? While he's no longer in legal trouble, the police affidavit from the December incident is still damning, and Texas fired him for "unacceptable behavior that makes him unfit to serve" as its head coach. That said, there will be multiple schools that explore the option of hiring him. Even if a return this cycle is deemed too quick for some, he'll be back in college basketball soon.

5. What will be the hot trend of the hiring cycle?

The past few years have seen different hiring trends. Schools hiring former players or alums was all the rage for a while, while the 2021 cycle saw several assistant coaches land high-major head coaching positions. Last spring, the SEC raided the mid-major market for most of its vacancies, with Florida hiring Todd Golden from San Francisco, LSU going for Murray State's Matt McMahon, Mississippi State landing Chris Jans from New Mexico State, Missouri opting for Cleveland State's Dennis Gates and South Carolina hiring Lamont Paris from Chattanooga. Throw in Seton Hall hiring Shaheen Holloway from Saint Peter's and the list of available mid-major coaches with multiple years of success took a hit. What's next? Could this year see more schools attempt to find the next Tommy Lloyd or Jerome Tang, longtime assistants ready to lead their own program?


Jobs already open

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Mike Brey announced in mid-January that he planned to step down after 23 years in South Bend. It's been fairly quiet on the replacement front, although two names that have been buzzing are Ohio State's Chris Holtmann and Penn State's Micah Shrewsberry. The buyout for Oklahoma's Porter Moser is simply too high, while Charleston's Pat Kelsey doesn't appear to be in the mix. Other names mentioned include Miami Heat assistant Chris Quinn, Iowa's Fran McCaffery and Illinois' Brad Underwood. A potential sleeper is Colgate's Matt Langel.

Texas Longhorns

Does Rodney Terry keep the job? Named the interim coach following Beard's suspension, Terry has the Longhorns in the hunt for a Big 12 regular-season title and a potential 1-seed on Selection Sunday. If he guides Texas to a Final Four, it will be hard for athletic director Chris Del Conte not to give him the full-time job. But indications are the Texas AD wants a proven winner and is willing to take some big swings. The actual names on the list are unclear, besides the Calipari scuttle mentioned above. Could he call Virginia's Tony Bennett? Someone from the NBA side? Would Houston's Kelvin Sampson make the move? Jerome Tang (Kansas State) could be a possibility.

Others currently open or with an interim head coach: Green Bay, Manhattan, New Mexico State, North Carolina A&T, UT Arlington, Wofford


Trending toward opening

California Golden Bears

While there were signs of promise during his first season at the helm (2019-20), Mark Fox's time in Berkeley seems likely to come to an end after this season. He was 15-43 in the Pac-12 in his first three seasons, 35-58 overall -- and the Bears are headed for their worst season under him this season. They entered the week at 3-24 overall, 2-14 in the Pac-12. Two names buzzing for this job over the past couple of weeks are UC Santa Barbara's Joe Pasternack and San José State's Tim Miles.

Georgetown Hoyas

Since giving Patrick Ewing a fully guaranteed extension following the Hoyas' run through the Big East tournament in 2021, Georgetown went 6-25 overall and 0-19 in the Big East last season and are 7-22 overall and 2-16 in conference play for 2022-23. If he's fired, Ewing is owed an eight-figure buyout. But, given the performances of the past two seasons, Georgetown might have to pay it. Names circulating to replace Ewing include Rick Pitino (Iona) and Mike Brey (Notre Dame).

Stanford Cardinal

When Stanford athletic director Bernard Muir put out a statement last March announcing Jerod Haase would be back in Palo Alto this season, it was clear the Cardinal needed to show signs of improvement. That hasn't quite happened, with Stanford trending toward its worst season in Haase's seven-year tenure. He has yet to reach an NCAA tournament and hasn't finished above .500 in the Pac-12 since 2018. Utah Valley's Mark Madsen, who helped lead Stanford to the Final Four as a player in 1998, is considered the favorite to replace Haase if the school makes a move.

Ole Miss Rebels

Kermit Davis hit the ground running in Oxford when he got the job in 2018, going to the NCAA tournament in his first season at the helm. The Rebels haven't been back since and are likely to finish with their worst record since he got the job. They entered the week 10-17 overall and 2-12 in the SEC. This is one of the more intriguing jobs in the cycle, given its conference affiliation and lack of obvious candidates. One name that's received some buzz already is FAU's Dusty May, while some have mentioned Ole Miss as a potential landing spot for Beard.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Another coach who started his tenure in impressive fashion, Josh Pastner won ACC Coach of the Year in 2017 and also went to the NCAA tournament in 2021 after winning the ACC tournament. But he went 12-20 (5-15 in the ACC) last season and was 11-16 (3-3) entering the week this season. Pastner does have a decent amount of money left on his contract, which runs until 2026, but Tech should be able to come up with the buyout. There's a long list of names linked to the job, with Tulane's Ron Hunter gathering some steam. Furman's Bob Richey and Charleston's Pat Kelsey are two other possibilities.


Jobs I'm watching

Clemson Tigers

Brad Brownell has been on the hot seat for what seems like a decade, but recent results have left him in peril again -- despite the Tigers being on track for their most wins since 2018. After sitting atop the ACC standings with a 10-1 record toward the end of January, they promptly lost four of five to fall to the wrong side of the bubble. Would an NCAA tournament bid save Brownell? Or is the program simply ready for a fresh start after 13 years? He's signed through the 2025-26 season, but he has a modest buyout.

St. John's Red Storm

St. John's raised some eyebrows when it hired Mike Anderson back in 2019, and while the Red Storm are headed for their fourth straight finish above .500 overall, they will likely miss the NCAA tournament for the fourth straight season. Anderson has a substantial eight-figure guarantee if he were to be fired, and it's unclear whether the school will come up with the money. Rick Pitino will be rumored as a replacement, as will Mike Brey and Bobby Hurley, but there are also a number of up-and-coming names in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast (Hofstra's Speedy Claxton, Fordham's Keith Urgo, Bryant's Jared Grasso) that could be intriguing.

Nebraska Cornhuskers

Fred Hoiberg's contract getting restructured seemed like the first step toward a potential parting of ways this spring, but the Cornhuskers would still owe him $10 million or $11 million if they fired him after this season. Remember, this is the same school paying former football coach Scott Frost $16 million after firing him last fall. Hoiberg also might be saving his job, though: The Cornhuskers have won four of their past five games, including three in a row against NCAA tournament competition.

Washington Huskies

After winning 21 games in Year 1 and going to the NCAA tournament in Year 2, Mike Hopkins hasn't quite reached those heights again in Seattle. Things bottomed out in 2021, with the Huskies finishing 5-21 overall. But they went 17-15 overall and 11-9 in the Pac-12 last season, and entered this week 15-13 overall. Hopkins has a fully guaranteed contract through 2025, with about $6 million remaining. He also has a strong relationship with athletic director Jennifer Cohen, who made a strong football hire in Kalen DeBoer and now has more leeway with which to make a decision.

Arizona State Sun Devils

This one has to go one way or the other in the next few weeks. Bobby Hurley signed a contract extension in 2019 after St. John's pursued him, but that deal runs out after next season. It's unlikely either side wants to go into next season with less than one year remaining. There have been contract talks, but nothing is signed yet, and the Sun Devils are fighting for their NCAA tournament lives with remaining games at Arizona, at UCLA and at USC. There are several directions this situation can go in the next month.

UCF Knights

This is another one with a couple of potential resolutions next month. Johnny Dawkins has been to one NCAA tournament since taking over at UCF in 2016, and the Knights haven't finished above .500 in the American since that 2019 campaign. After starting 13-4 this season, they've lost seven of nine entering the week. Dawkins is signed through 2025, and it's worth remembering UCF is joining the Big 12 in July.


One more year?

Louisville Cardinals

Kenny Payne has been the head coach of the Cardinals for less than one season, but it's been a disaster. They dropped to 4-24 overall in Monday's road loss at Duke and sit in last place in the ACC at 2-14. The team has actually looked better over the past few weeks, but the Cardinals were entirely noncompetitive for long stretches. He's not going to be fired after one year, but strides need to be made next season.

Oregon State Beavers

After going to the Elite Eight in 2021, Wayne Tinkle received an extension through 2026-27 -- a fully guaranteed deal worth around $3 million per year. Oregon State is since 13-46 overall and 5-32 in the Pac-12. But the school isn't going to pay its basketball coach eight figures not to coach, so he should be fine for at least one more year. But, the Beavers will have to show signs of improvement.


Seats that have cooled

NC State Wolfpack

Kevin Keatts' seat likely wasn't as hot as perceived entering 2022-23, given the contract provision he could trigger to extend his deal through 2027-28. But he put the coaching change talk to bed this season, having huge success in the transfer portal and very likely guiding the Wolfpack to their second NCAA tournament appearance in his tenure.

Northwestern Wildcats

Chris Collins guided the Wildcats to the program's first NCAA tournament in 2017, but it's been five years of struggles since. They were picked 13th in the preseason Big Ten poll, and it looked like Collins' time in Evanston was coming to an end. But, NU is back in the top 25 as we head toward the end of February, sitting in second place in the Big Ten after five straight wins. Collins has gone from the hot seat to National Coach of the Year conversation.

Pittsburgh Panthers

Like his fellow former Duke assistant, Jeff Capel didn't enter this season with any outside expectations of success. Pitt was picked 14th in the preseason ACC poll and started out with three losses in its first four games. The Panthers have lost just five games since, and are in the ACC regular-season title hunt. They're also going to be in the NCAA tournament for the first time since Capel took over in 2018.

Texas Tech Red Raiders

A couple of weeks ago, Mark Adams would have likely been in the previous category, despite winning 27 games and going to the Sweet 16 in his first year at the helm. And there were whispers out of Lubbock that some of the money people around the program were getting frustrated with this season's struggles. But Tech played itself back onto the bubble in the past few weeks, winning five of seven and climbing out of the Big 12 cellar.

Vanderbilt Commodores

Some of the pressure was taken off Jerry Stackhouse before the season, when he received a contract extension despite a 13-39 SEC record through his first three years. But Stackhouse has made the administration look smart with Vanderbilt's late-season performance. The Commodores are on a five-game winning streak entering the week, including victories over Tennessee and Auburn, and have improved to 15-12 overall and 8-6 in the league.


Others to keep an eye on

South Florida Bulls

Outside of a 24-14 campaign in 2018-19, Brian Gregory's time in Tampa has been a serious struggle. This season hasn't gone much better, with South Florida sitting at 11-16 overall and 4-10 in the American. Many industry sources expected him to be fired last spring, but he received a contract extension after last season's 8-23 campaign that ties him to the Bulls through 2026, so it's impossible to tell which way this is going.

Wichita State Shockers

Isaac Brown was given the interim tag after Gregg Marshall left before the 2020-21 season, and he led the Shockers to the American regular-season title and an NCAA tournament appearance. After earning the permanent job, though, Brown hasn't been able to back up the early success. Wichita State went 15-13 last season and entered the week 14-12 this season. The Shockers' fan base is used to regular NCAA tournament appearances and could be getting antsy.

Temple Owls

Earlier in the season, there was speculation Aaron McKie could be in trouble. Then the Owls beat Houston on the road in late January and were competing for an American regular-season title with an 8-2 league record. The wheels fell off again, though, with four straight losses before Temple bounced back with a win over Tulsa on Sunday. McKie could finish with double-digit league wins for the second straight season, which should buy him time.

Fresno State Bulldogs

Barring someone leaving for a Power 5 job, Fresno State might be the only Mountain West position to open this spring. Justin Hutson looked like a great hire earlier in his tenure, going 23-9 overall and 13-5 in the league in Year 1. But the Bulldogs haven't finished .500 in the league in the past four seasons. A positive: they did win The Basketball Classic last spring, beating Coastal Carolina in the final to finish with a 23-13 record.

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

Rick Stansbury had one of the most talented mid-major rosters in the country this season, but the Hilltoppers are just 6-10 in Conference USA. It's a familiar story for Stansbury at Western Kentucky, which hasn't made the NCAA tournament since hiring the former Mississippi State coach in 2016. There is a mitigating factor this season: Stansbury missed several games due to health issues. That could buy him time.

Others: Arkansas State, Bowling Green, Bucknell, Canisius, Charleston Southern, Columbia, Drexel, East Tennessee State, High Point, Holy Cross, Idaho, Incarnate Word, Loyola Maryland, Monmouth, NJIT, Northern Arizona, UIC, UTSA, Valparaiso


High-profile names to watch

John Calipari, Kentucky Wildcats: As mentioned above, the pressure on Calipari has lessened since the home loss to South Carolina on Jan. 10, with the Wildcats back in a comfortable NCAA tournament position. It's unlikely he would have been fired regardless, but the Texas rumors persist.

Chris Holtmann, Ohio State Buckeyes: It's become a bit toxic in Columbus, with OSU poised to finish 13th in the 14-team Big Ten. The Buckeyes have lost 13 of their past 14 games, with three straight blowout defeats in the past couple of weeks. It will be Holtmann's first time missing an NCAA tournament since 2013, however, and his fully guaranteed contract still has around $17.5 million on it. Firing him would be a huge surprise. But, he could get in the mix at Notre Dame or any other non-Texas opening if he chooses to look around. And if that happens, another very big job opens up and the dominoes start falling.

Micah Shrewsberry, Penn State Nittany Lions: Shrewsberry is poised to be one of the hottest names of the carousel -- if the Nittany Lions can get over the line and into the NCAA tournament. They've won two in a row to get back on the bubble. He's been at Penn State for only two years but has a great reputation in the coaching community after more than a decade under Brad Stevens and Matt Painter. He could be the favorite at Notre Dame and will also be a name at Georgetown.

Rick Pitino, Iona Gaels: Arguably the best college basketball coach of his generation, Pitino has won one regular-season title and one conference title in his two years at Iona -- and has the Gaels in position for a second straight regular-season championship. He likely has one more shot at a big job, and it's conceivable Georgetown, UCF, Arizona State and St. John's could all look at him. For my money, Georgetown is the likeliest option.

Jerome Tang, Kansas State Wildcats: Tang has done a legitimate National Coach of the Year-worthy job in Manhattan this season, taking a Wildcats team picked last in the Big 12 to a potential top-four seed in the NCAA tournament. It's only Year 1 for him as a head coach, after nearly 20 years as an assistant at Baylor, but his stock is through the roof. It would not be a surprise to see Texas take a long look at him.

Ed Cooley, Providence Friars: Cooley will undoubtedly get mentioned with a Georgetown opening -- and perhaps others, depending on how dominoes fall -- but it's hard to imagine him leaving Providence. He's a Providence guy who has spent his entire life in New England, and he has the Friars pushing for a second straight Big East regular-season title. He's going to leave that for the worst team in the league?

Steve Forbes, Wake Forest Demon Deacons: If Forbes and Wake Forest can get into the NCAA tournament, look for him to be a hot name on the carousel. He did an incredible job at East Tennessee State before taking over in Winston-Salem and leading the Demon Deacons to 25 wins last season. He has coached and recruited effectively at every level and has shown a propensity for turning programs around quickly.

Mike Brey: When Brey announced he was stepping down at the end of the season, it was assumed he was going to retire to his Delaware beach house and call it a career. But in mid-February he told Stadium he wasn't retiring, and wasn't done coaching. Speculation quickly spread that he could be in the mix at Georgetown or St. John's. The Fighting Irish went to the NCAA tournament only once in his final six seasons in South Bend, but he's one of the most popular guys in the coaching community and still has his reputation intact.

Randy Bennett, Saint Mary's Gaels: Bennett has never really shown an interest in leaving Moraga, but if Arizona State offered him a ton of money to return to his home state, would he consider a move? He's having arguably his best season ever at Saint Mary's, with the Gaels one game ahead of Gonzaga entering the weekend. They're heading to their ninth NCAA tournament since Bennett took over.

Jason Hart, G League Ignite: Keep an eye on Hart for any West Coast openings. He has a strong reputation at every level of the sport, after playing 10 years in the NBA, spending eight years as an assistant coach at USC and being the head coach of the G League Ignite team for the past couple of seasons.

Andy Enfield, USC Trojans: Enfield was briefly linked with the Maryland job last spring and has been whispered about with regard to some potential openings this season. But he signed a contract extension through 2027-28 last March and has the Trojans poised for a third straight NCAA tournament appearance.


Mid-major names to monitor

Pat Kelsey, Charleston Cougars: The Cougars were a national storyline for a couple of months, starting off 21-1 and finding a spot in the AP top 25. They still have to keep up with Hofstra in the CAA standings, but this is now a second school at which Kelsey has achieved success. He went to two NCAA tournaments at Winthrop, winning four regular-season championships in his final six years there. Kelsey has plenty of energy and his teams play an up-tempo style; he'll be in the mix for a number of jobs.

Dusty May, Florida Atlantic Owls: Despite losses in two of its past five games, May has FAU positioned for an at-large bid if it doesn't slip up anymore. The Owls are 24-3 overall and had a 20-game winning streak earlier this season, a run that had them in the AP top 25 for several weeks. May, whose career started as a manager under Bob Knight at Indiana, has high-major experience from his days as an assistant coach under Mike White at Florida. He'll likely be a target for Ole Miss, Georgia Tech and others.

Paul Mills, Oral Roberts Golden Eagles: While another Sweet 16 run might not be in the offing, this year's Oral Roberts team is better than the 2021 team by most metrics. The Golden Eagles are currently undefeated in the Summit League, with one of the fastest tempos and most efficient offenses in the country. Mills is 38-11 in the league in the past three seasons.

Grant McCasland, North Texas Mean Green: Another former Baylor assistant, McCasland passed up a few opportunities last spring but will likely be a target for multiple jobs again. He has won at least 18 games in all seven seasons as a head coach, going to the NCAA tournament and winning a game in 2021 and then winning the C-USA regular-season title last season. He has the Mean Green back in the mix for a bid again.

Matt Langel, Colgate Raiders: Langel is vastly underrated on a national level. He has guided Colgate to each of the past three NCAA tournaments and just clinched the Raiders' fourth regular-season championship in the past five years. They shoot a lot of 3s, they make a lot of 3s and they're incredibly efficient. Langel could get into the mix for anything in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic areas, and is also a potential sleeper at Notre Dame.

Mark Madsen, Utah Valley Wolverines: The former Stanford star and NBA forward has Utah Valley atop the WAC standings, leading the Wolverines to their second 20-win season in a row. He's the odds-on favorite to replace Jerod Haase at Stanford if the Cardinal look to make a move.

Tim Miles, San José State Spartans: Miles has done an incredible job at SJSU this season, going from 8-23 and 1-17 in the MWC last season to 16-11 overall and 7-7 in the league in 2022-23. The Spartans are on track for their most overall wins since at least 2011 and their best conference record in more than 20 years. Miles also achieved varying levels of success at North Dakota State, Colorado State and Nebraska. It wouldn't be a surprise to see California make a move for him.

James Jones, Yale Bulldogs: Since 2015, Jones has led Yale to three NCAA tournament appearances and four regular-season Ivy League championships. And the Bulldogs are tied for first in the league entering the week. He was briefly linked to St. John's when the Red Storm hired Mike Anderson a few years ago; could he get in the mix for something else this cycle?

Ritchie McKay, Liberty Flames: There are few mid-major coaches with the consistent success of McKay over the past five years: three regular-season championships, three conference tournament championships and a chance for a fourth in both. Anything in the Southeast could make sense for McKay.

Darian DeVries, Drake Bulldogs: After an up-and-down nonconference season, DeVries once again has Drake at the top of the MVC. Over the past three seasons, the Bulldogs are 74-22 overall and 42-12 in the Valley. Industry sources indicate there aren't a ton of jobs he would leave Drake for, so there might have to be some dominos for DeVries to move.

Mike Rhoades, VCU Rams: Rhoades has had consistent success at VCU, winning at least 20 games in three of six seasons and making two NCAA tournament appearances. He also consistently has one of the best defenses in college basketball. There's not an obvious landing spot, but Rhoads has the Rams poised for an Atlantic 10 title.

Speedy Claxton, Hofstra Pride: Despite all the hype about Charleston earlier this season, it's Hofstra that entered the week atop the CAA. Claxton has done a fantastic job since taking over from Joe Mihalich, winning 21 games last season and entering the week with 22 wins this season. Could he get in the mix if St. John's opens?

Ben McCollum, Northwest Missouri State Bearcats: McCollum has achieved remarkable success at the Division II level, winning back-to-back national championships and four of the past five. It helps his case that Division II to Division I jumps from guys like Bart Lundy (Queens) and Josh Schertz (Indiana State) have been successful.

Others who could move: Joe Pasternack, UC Santa Barbara; Jared Grasso, Bryant; Jeff Boals, Ohio; John Becker, Vermont; Niko Medved, Colorado State; Mark Pope, BYU; Bucky McMillan, Samford; Brian Wardle, Bradley; Bob Richey, Furman; Casey Alexander, Belmont; Steve Lutz, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi; Robert Jones, Norfolk State; David Riley, Eastern Washington; Stan Johnson, Loyola Marymount; Chris Victor, Seattle; Takayo Siddle, UNC Wilmington; Amir Abdur-Rahim, Kennesaw State; Todd Simon, Southern Utah; Ryan Odom, Utah State; Austin Claunch, Nicholls; Russell Turner, UC Irvine; Rob Senderoff, Kent State; Tod Kowalczyk, Toledo


Can they get back in?

Chris Mack: Mack clearly has the résumé to get back in the mix for jobs: four Sweet 16 appearances, one Elite Eight run in 2017, nine NCAA tournaments in his first 10 seasons as a head coach. But he could also opt to sit out this cycle. Midway through a down 2021-22 campaign at Louisville, Mack stepped down as the head coach.

LaVall Jordan: Jordan was let go by Butler after last season and spent this season doing work for Fox Sports and the Field of 68, but he could try to return this spring. He went to the NCAA tournament in his first season at Butler in 2017-18 and would have gone in 2020 before the pandemic canceled the tournament.

Steve Wojciechowski: It's not entirely clear whether Wojciechowski, who has spent this season doing television work for ESPN, wants to get back into coaching this cycle. He didn't show much interest in anything last spring. He went to two NCAA tournaments in seven seasons at Marquette after spending 15 years as an assistant at Duke.

Cuonzo Martin: Martin has had a low-key year since getting let go by Missouri after last season. He has head coaching experience at Missouri State, Tennessee, California and Missouri, going to four NCAA tournaments and one Sweet 16.

Tom Crean: Fired by Georgia last March after four seasons in Athens, Crean has spent most of this season doing television work for ESPN. In 22 seasons at Marquette, Indiana and Georgia, Crean went to nine NCAA tournaments, including four Sweet 16s and one Final Four.

Mark Turgeon: Turgeon and Maryland parted ways in early December of last season, just eight games into the campaign. He had been in College Park since 2011, guiding the Terrapins to five NCAA tournament appearances. One potential landing spot could be Wichita State, where he was the head coach from 2000 to 2007.

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