The 2024-25 Men’s College Basketball season marked a significant year for first-time head coaches.
Dusty May led the Michigan team to an impressive turnaround, boasting 27 wins after a dismal 8-23 his previous year and making it to the Sweet 16. Meanwhile, Mark Pope brought Kentucky back to the NCAA Tournament’s second weekend for the first time since 2019.
Now, five new recruits from the 2025-26 class are hoping to achieve a similar success in their early seasons.
Wil Wade, North Carolina
Regardless of what you might think, he has a knack for winning wherever he goes. NC State seems poised for a good season based on the roster Wade’s gathered this year. It’s quite possible they’ll solidify their place in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
Transferred from Texas Tech, Williams was one of the standout players last year’s Big Dance, and he’ll be joining a strong recruiting class that includes Treho Roman from Michigan, Terrance Arsenou from Houston, Jerryden from Florida, and Ben Allenrubin from North Carolina.
Wade’s confidence in his team’s future is evident; he hasn’t shied away from taking shots at his state rival, North Carolina.
Ryan Odom, Virginia
Since the 2019 NCAA Tournament, Virginia hasn’t been able to secure a win. They’re facing a potential first losing season since 2009-10. With Odom at the helm, the Cavaliers are transitioning from Tony Bennett, who previously faced a devastating upset against UMBC in 2018—marking Odom’s infamous achievement of pulling off the first upset of a No. 1 seed.
Odom comes to UVA after coaching at Utah and VCU, where both programs made it to the NCAA Tournament in his second year. His time at Virginia could see significant success, particularly with the strong addition of Malik Thomas from San Francisco. The influx of talent, including German big man Johann Grunlow, allows Odom to field a well-rounded team.
He has a track record of victories and now has access to the resources he needs to excel.
Sean Miller, Texas
Texas has been a regular in the NCAA Tournament since 2019, but their seasons have felt lackluster given the talent on their roster, especially when comparing to the past 15 years. Miller’s hiring brings a fresh sense of hope—he made an unexpected move from Xavier, where he had a career revival in 2022.
In his inaugural year at Texas, Miller mixes a host of newcomers with returning players like Jordan Pope, Chendal Weaver, and Tramon Mark, each contributing solid scoring. While the Longhorns may not have the depth to meet Miller’s high expectations just yet, they have enough talent to aim for a top 25 spot.
Daryan DeBreeze, Indiana
It wouldn’t be surprising if the Hoosiers exceeded expectations in 2025-26.
Daryan DeBreeze has consistently won more than 20 games each season as head coach at Drake. Even though an injury setback marred his first year at West Virginia, he still managed to guide them to the NCAA Tournament last season.
In Bloomington, DeBreeze has pulled together another Top 10 transfer portal class, featuring his son, alongside standout players like Reed Bailey, Lamar Wilkerson, and Tayton Connorway, who could thrive at the higher level.
Indiana’s passionate fan base is eager to return to championship contention. The upcoming NCAA Tournament could very well showcase DeBreeze’s potential to elevate the Hoosiers.
Lucas, Miami
Lucas, the only individual on this list without prior head coaching experience, landed a role in Miami after serving three seasons working under John Shayer at Duke. Choosing to step away from Duke during the regular season, he aimed to quickly build a strong competitive roster in South Beach.
This decision has paid off. Lucas has successfully recruited top talent from the transfer portal, including key players from Michigan, Indiana, and TCU.
While his coaching abilities remain to be fully tested, the talent he’s gathered for the 2025-26 season is undeniable. If he can leverage this talent well, the Hurricanes could certainly make a strong push for the NCAA Tournament after a solid showing last season.
