South Florida coach Bryan Hodgson leaves for Providence

Brian Hodgson to Lead Providence Friars

Brian Hodgson is getting ready to move to Rhode Island.

On Sunday, the Friars announced that Hodgson, currently the coach of the South Florida men’s basketball team, will be taking over as the head coach at Providence.

At just 38 years old, Hodgson led the Bulls to a remarkable season, finishing with a 25-9 record, winning the American Conference championship, and earning their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2012.

Unfortunately, USF, the No. 11 seed in the NCAA Tournament East, experienced a tough loss, falling 83-79 to No. 6 seed Louisville in their opening game.

Expressing his gratitude, Hodgson said, “I am honored and excited to be named the next head coach of the Providence Friars men’s basketball program. This is a program with a proud tradition, a passionate fan base, and a city that truly embraces the team. We intend to build something that reflects that pride. We will be tough, disciplined, and relentless in our pursuit of excellence.”

This new role at Providence marks Hodgson’s third coaching position in as many years. Prior to USF, he spent two seasons at Arkansas State University, where in his final year, he guided the Red Wolves to a regular-season title in the Sun Belt Conference.

His arrival at Providence comes at a crucial time. The program has faced challenges, including a series of losing seasons under Kim English, who was recently informed of his dismissal at the end of the season. The Friars last reached the NCAA Tournament in 2023.

Before taking on the Providence role, Hodgson was speculated to be a candidate for the coaching job at Syracuse, which recently parted ways with head coach Adrian Autry after the ACC Tournament. Despite the speculation not being a distraction, Hodgson admitted, “it’s also nice to be asked.” In the end, he declined the opportunity at Syracuse earlier this week.