March is primed to focus on coaches looking to change teams after this season. Even before the excitement of March Madness kicks in, the college basketball coaching carousel is already spinning. Kansas State has filled the vacancy left by Casey Alexander from Belmont. Currently, there are significant openings at Arizona State, Boston College, Butler, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Providence, and Syracuse.
Many coaches from the NCAA Tournament who have had strong seasons will soon find themselves as potential candidates for new positions.
Travis Steele, Miami (Ohio)
After the Redhawks achieved a perfect regular season of 31-0, it seemed almost inevitable that Steele’s name would surface for a larger coaching role. Now that Miami (Ohio) is in the NCAA Tournament as an at-large selection, he’s been connected to Butler and Cincinnati.
Steele has clear ties to both programs. He graduated from Butler in 2004 and previously was a head coach in the Big East at Xavier. Additionally, Steele spent 14 years in Cincinnati as both an assistant and head coach before joining Miami (Ohio), which gives him a solid local connection to the Bearcats.
Other programs might surely come calling if Steele makes a successful run in the NCAA Tournament after spending eight seasons as head coach. If this memorable mid-major team can secure a couple of victories in March, it would cap off a fantastic season for the Redhawks.
Meanwhile, staying within the MAC, Grose has a strong track record from his time at Akron. With four NCAA Tournament appearances, including three consecutive in five years, Grose turned Akron into a reliable mid-major program early in the NIL era.
Grose also has connections to Butler and Cincinnati through his coaching history. He was once an assistant at Butler from 2000 to 2001, making him quite familiar with the Bulldogs. He also spent seven years as an assistant at Xavier and Ohio State before taking the head coaching role at the University of Illinois, giving him a significant link to Ohio State and, in turn, Cincinnati.
Should Akron perform well as a No. 12 seed against No. 5 Texas Tech, Grose may attract even more attention in this coaching shift.
Jerrod Calhoun, Utah
Calhoun, at 44, has a straightforward case. Over the past four seasons, he’s notched 100 wins, made two NCAA Tournament appearances, and had an NIT run during two years at Youngstown State, followed by two at Utah State.
In his time with the Aggies, Calhoun has consistently achieved at least 26 wins while navigating several changes. Utah State ranks No. 29 on KenPom, showcasing a top-45 offense (28th) and defense (45th). His earlier tenure at Youngstown State saw him turn the Penguins into a formidable force in the Horizon League with consecutive 22-win seasons.
There’s certainly curiosity about how Calhoun would fit with the Bearcats, especially considering his beginnings as a student assistant under Bob Huggins at Cincinnati, but his recent record of wins might make him appealing to various programs.
Brian Hodgson, South Florida
Hodgson has built a solid reputation as a head coach after many years as an assistant to Nate Oats. In his first year with the Bulls, he delivered impressive results, steering them into tournaments and achieving a top 50 finish on KenPom.
Before his stint at South Florida, Hodgson coached Arkansas State to consecutive postseason appearances, finishing first in the Sun Belt and ending last season with a trip to the NIT. As a native of upstate New York with a connection to Buffalo, he might eye the Syracuse job if he continues his success in March. His extensive JUCO experience, both as a player and coach, adds another layer to his credentials.
Additionally, Cross, who is 51, guided the Trojans to five straight 20-win seasons and back-to-back NCAA Tournament trips, making him another name in the coaching conversation.
Before his achievements at the Trojans, Cross was the all-time winningest coach at UT Arlington, wrapping up with a 225-161 record over 12 seasons. He holds the distinction of being the only coach to finish with a .500 or better record at UT Arlington and is recognized for his consistency in a challenging role. Although Cross hasn’t worked at a major program, his 20 years of leadership experience in his own program is a significant plus.
