What Head Coaching Changes Mean for the 26-27 Season in NCAA Men’s Hoops
This offseason saw many coaching changes with big name teams such as UNC, Boston College, Creighton, and Saint Mary’s all finding new head coaches. Each team has lost its head coach, concluding the 2026 NCAA season, but each with a different reason. For some, success hasn’t been there, and the program is looking elsewhere for a new leader. For others, a new position has opened, and that coach has taken a step forward to further excel in their career. Each change comes with new opportunities both for the coach and for the program.
UNC has been known as one of the most dominant and successful college programs in the country. Producing top-tier talents and success consistently every season comes naturally every year. This was easier in the times of Roy Williams as head coach from 2003 to 2021. He led the program to three National Championships before retiring and handing the head coaching gig to Hubert Davis. Davis was the coach for the last five seasons with the Tar Heels. He led the team to a National Championship appearance in 2022, but following back-to-back first-round exits, the program parted ways with him. Next up is Michael Malone, who is in some unfamiliar territory, coaching college. He is known for leading the Denver Nuggets to their first NBA Championship in 2023. However, questions quickly surfaced about how a star big man’s departure changes UNC’s outlook in 2026. He quickly dominated the transfer portal, but not before their star big man Henri Veesaar announced he would stay in the 2026 NBA Draft. The change will be a different style for the program, hoping to get back on track to their winning ways, as the Tar Heel nation anticipates.
Boston College is handing their head coaching spot over to Luke Murray after they released their previous coach, Earl Grant, following five seasons with a 72-92 record. Murray comes from a program known for success, having been an assistant coach for the UConn Huskies for five seasons. He helped lead the team to National Championships and is hoping to continue that success in Massachusetts. He has over 19 years of Division I coaching experience, including teams such as Xavier, Rhode Island, and Louisville. This will be his first role as a head coach, and it will be interesting to see how he steps into the spotlight. The Eagles have gone through some rough seasons in the ACC and are hoping this coaching change can turn things around.
Creighton is transitioning to a new era with their former associate head coach Alan Huss named as their head coach. He replaces long-time head coach Greg McDermott, who announced his retirement following the 2026 season. Huss was a 2002 Creighton graduate familiar with the program and hoping to keep McDermott’s spark alive. McDermott retires as the all-time winningest coach in Creighton history with 365 wins. He also led the program to 13 NCAA tournaments and the 2023 Elite Eight. The Big East is always a scrappy conference, bringing in close games down to the wire. Huss has seen this side of play and should step into the role well as he starts a new era for the Blue Jays.
Saint Mary’s has been a dominant program in recent years both in the West Coast Conference and in March Madness. The program promoted their associate head coach, Mickey McConnell, to head coach following Randy Bennett’s departure to Arizona State. Bennett was known for forming a rivalry with the successful Gonzaga program and holds the all-time winning record of the school. He was the WCC Coach of the Year seven times and is taking his success to Arizona State. McConnell was a former star for the Gaels in his time as a student and is now taking over as head coach. The program has key players and has demonstrated success and brilliance in the last couple of years, and McConnell is hoping to continue this for his alma mater.
The coaching changes will shuffle things up for the NCAA, with many coaches stepping into the spotlight for the first time in their careers. With the new tournament expansion, some of these teams may find themselves competing for a final bid into March Madness. Although they spent most of the time as assistants, they still know how to run a team and what to do when it comes down to the wire. It will be a big year for these coaches, looking to put their name out there finally, in the biggest position possible. The pressure will come with the role, but it’s nothing these coaches haven’t seen before as they form a new era of college basketball.
