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Coaching Carousel Spins: Big Names Shake Up College Hoops
30 Oct
Summary
- Will Wade returns to LSU after a previous tenure and a stint at McNeese.
- Michael Malone brings NBA championship experience to North Carolina.
- Several programs trust former mid-major coaches for the upcoming season.
The college basketball coaching carousel has been exceptionally active, with several high-profile moves set to redefine the landscape for the upcoming 2026-27 season. Will Wade has returned to LSU, rejoining the program after a previous tenure from 2017-22 and a successful stint at McNeese. Wade, who was fired from LSU in 2022 due to NCAA violations, spent one season at NC State before his return to Baton Rouge.
North Carolina has tapped into NBA talent, hiring Michael Malone to lead the Tar Heels. Following his departure from the Denver Nuggets after the 2025 NBA season, Malone spent a year as a broadcaster. He now embarks on his first college head coaching role, bringing over a decade of NBA experience, including a 2023 NBA championship, to one of college basketball's most storied programs.
Michigan, the reigning national champions, lost coach Dusty May to the Dallas Mavericks. Assistant Mike Boynton Jr. has been promoted to interim head coach, signing a two-year deal. Boynton previously coached Oklahoma State for seven seasons, leading them to one NCAA Tournament appearance. He now guides a Wolverines team that lost its top three players to the NBA Draft.
Other notable changes include Tony Stubblefield's promotion to interim head coach at Oregon following Dana Altman's retirement, though Stubblefield previously coached DePaul. Randy Bennett returns to Arizona State after a successful 25-season run at Saint Mary's, aiming to elevate the Sun Devils. Jerrod Calhoun has moved to Cincinnati after success at Utah State, while Ben Jacobson takes over at Utah State. Bryan Hodgson, who led South Florida to an NCAA Tournament appearance, is now at Providence. Gerry McNamara, a former Syracuse star, begins his head coaching tenure with the Orange after coaching Siena. Justin Gainey returns to NC State as head coach, and Casey Alexander takes over at Kansas State after a successful period at Belmont.
