Every season, we see multiple mid-major women's basketball head coaches move up into the Power 4 ranks to assume the same role. Here are the Power 4 programs who have hired a head coach from the mid-major ranks, since 2021:
2021: Oklahoma (Jennie Baranczyk), Washington (Tina Langley)
2022: Arizona State (Natasha Adair), Illinois (Shauna Green), Georgia (Katie Abrahamson-Henderson), Oklahoma State (Jacie Hoyt), Syracuse (Felisha Legette-Jack), Virginia (Amaka Agugua-Hamilton), Wake Forest (Megan Gebbia), West Virginia (Dawn Plitzuweit)
2023: Cincinnati (Katrina Merriweather), Michigan State (Robyn Fralick), Pittsburgh (Tory Verdi), West Virginia (Mark Kellogg)
2024: Clemson (Shawn Poppie), Miami (Tricia Cullop), Tennessee (Kim Caldwell), Virginia Tech (Megan Duffy)
2025: Arizona (Becky Burke), Arizona State (Molly Miller), Arkansas (Kelsi Musick), Auburn (Larry Vickers)
Who will be the most qualified & likely to make the leap in 2026? Here are the candidates, broken down into three categories:
LEVEL III: "Probably Not Leaving, but Worth the Call"
10) Rechelle Turner (Murray State)
First off, Coach Turner needs some respect put on her name. When one searches "Murray State WBB Coach", Google's algorithm pulls up Nate Levine from the separate Murray State COLLEGE. Not taking shots at Coach Levine, but Turner's squad went 25-8 (16-4) in 2024-25, bringing home the Missouri Valley Conference's Regular Season & Tournament Championships. Before dismissing the MVC, realize that they were ranked #7 in the Conference NET Rankings, ahead of the Mountain West, A-10, and Ivy League.
What may be more impressive is the year-to-year progression for the Racers in the MVC. After being a solid member of the OVC, Turner's squad came over to the Missouri Valley entering the 2022-23 season. In their three seasons competing in the MVC, the Racers have posted conference records of 7-13, 12-8, and 16-4. Turner knows how to BUILD a program, year after year.
The reason why she may not leave? Coming off of their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2008, they return star junior guard Haven Ford, who would likely return in 2026-27 for a last dance. In addition, Turner is an MSU alumnae, playing from 1991-94 and leading the Racers in assists her final two seasons. She took the MSU job after 21 seasons as the head coach at nearby Murray High School. The area is clearly home, and while a call is certainly warranted, I can't imagine Coach Turner leaving any time soon.
9) Greg Todd (Eastern Kentucky)
The KHSAA Hall of Famer is Kentucky through and through. He began his coaching career in 1992 and has yet to leave the Commonwealth. That's the case against him leaving.
The case for calling Coach Todd? In 2024-25, Eastern Kentucky ranked #1 in D1 WBB in percentage of catch & shoot FGA that were uncontested (per Synergy), while finishing in the 85th percentile in points per possession (PPP) on unguarded, catch & shoot shots. In other words, among the 362 D1 teams last season, his team took the fewest percentage of contested shots in America.
This man can coach, and I'm giving him a ring if I need a new leader of my program.
8) Tricia Binford (Montana State)
Coach Binford has led the Bobcats since 2005 and has no plans to slow down any time soon. Fresh off of a Big Sky tournament championship, Montana State looks to get back to the NCAA Tournament with players who fit their system.
The Bobcats ranked in the 99th percentile in PPP allowed in man defense and half-court defense. Perhaps most impressive, Montana State led D1 in fewest PPP allowed out of timeouts. That speaks to the character, intelligence, and toughness of her players. If it's true that a team ultimately resembles their coach, it's tough not to have praise for Coach Binford.
One quote I heard from a 2026 Top 100 recruit's mom, whose daughter ended up committing elsewhere: "Coach Binford embodies a profound passion for coaching, introducing a unique approach characterized by competitive joy. Her deep love for the game and high basketball IQ are clearly reflected in the development of the young women she mentors. Beyond teaching them the skills of the game, she also imparts valuable life lessons. Anyone fortunate enough to play for Coach Binford leaves her program not only as a more proficient basketball player but also as a leader and a more empowered woman."
That's good enough for me, if she decides to move to a Power 4 program.
LEVEL II: "If the Right Job Opens, They're In"
7) Michael Meek (Portland)
Michael Meek runs great X's and O's. Taking a deeper dive at PPP in 2024-25, Portland ranked 95th percentile on SLOB's, and 94th percentile on BOB's. The Pilots also ranked 97th percentile in percent of time shooting "catch & shoot", while ranking 86th percentile in amount of "unguarded catch & shoot", all per Synergy.
More importantly, he gets quality players to fit his system, winning 31 games last season (17-3 in conference). They beat Princeton this past season, Oregon the year before that, and BYU in 2022-23. His conference record in the last 3 seasons is 42-12. In addition, Meek's Pilots qualified for the 2020 NCAA Tournament, their first since 1997. That should qualify Michael Meek for a P4 job.
The question is whether or not he is comfortable leaving the area? He has spent his entire career in the Pacific Northwest. Would a job have to open up in that area for him to pursue it? If the right fit opened, Michael Meek would be an elite hire.
6) Carly Thibault-Dudonis (Fairfield)
Honestly, the only reason CTD is on this level is because of the family lineage in the WNBA. If that wasn't the case, she'd be on Level I.
She and her husband Blake have built a mid-major powerhouse at Fairfield, posting a 58-7 record over the past two seasons, while winning a remarkable 39 of 40 conference games. In terms of 2024-25 points per possession, the Stags ranked 93rd percentile in all offensive possessions, and 92nd percentile in all defensive possessions. That is typically a winning formula, one that athletic directors would be wise to pounce on.
5) Jeff Hans (Northern Kentucky)
You can't talk about the career of Jeff Hans without mentioning "winning". While at the helm of Thomas More (KY), Hans compiled a 339-42 record (.889), winning two NCAA D3 National Championships and an NAIA National Championship.
As a former NKU assistant coach who has lived in the greater Cincinnati area for a long time, it would be tough to imagine Hans leaving immediately for a new job elsewhere in the country. That said, he certainly belongs in this discussion and would bring a winning program & culture to anyone who can convince him to depart Northern Kentucky.
Level I: "The Favorites"
4) Erin Dickerson Davis (William & Mary)
After winning the CAA tournament championship in 2025, "Coach E" is destined for more in 2025-26. This season will be pivotal in proving that their Journey to the Tourney was not a fluke. I believe that Dickerson-Davis is an intelligent, well connected, positive force of energy who can get players to buy in & keep fighting, no matter what the record is.
It shouldn't be lost on anyone that Coach E had winning seasons in each of her first two years at William & Mary. For a program looking to win right away, Coach E may be the perfect candidate.
3) Vanessa Blair-Lewis (George Mason)
Blair-Lewis has increased George Mason's win total in each of her four seasons at the helm in Fairfax, culminating with a 27-6 record (14-4) in 2024-25. In the last two seasons, the Patriots have gone 50-14 (28-8).
Coach gets the most out of her personnel, including star sophomore guard Kennedy Harris this past year. The fact that Harris stayed in the program, rather than jump to the portal, shows that she can recruit, sign, develop, and maintain talent.
This would be an intriguing hire for any school looking to build year-after-year, while developing homegrown talent and energizing the fan base.
2) Raina Harmon (Florida Gulf Coast)
Coach Harmon hasn't completed a game as a head coach yet, but she's more than deserving to be on this list. Developed Caitlin Clark? Check. Steadying force on back-to-back National Finalists? Check. Modern style of play? Check. Treats everyone with respect and love? Check.
Looking at Harmon's recruiting efforts so far, it's clear she is putting a priority on 3-point shooting. This exciting and efficient style will serve well in the Atlantic Sun conference and give her the ability to play with multiple rotations, switch everything defensively, and give her team the best opportunity to maximize their points per possession.
Harmon is well respected in the industry. Her players, recruits, AAU directors, and even opposing coaches all speak glowingly of her. At the same time, she is as competitive as anyone in the field. It will be fascinating to see how her first season plays out in Ft. Myers.
1) Aaron Roussell (Richmond)
Yes, he just signed a contract extension, but that doesn't matter to the big donors at the Power 4 level. Roussell is the only coach on this list to have advanced to the 2nd Round of the NCAA Tournament, which was achieved in 2025.
The analytics from this past season are bonkers. Richmond ranked in the 99th percentile for PPP in all offense, man offense, zone offense, and half-court offense. The Spiders finished tied for 1st in the country with UConn in PPP per field goal attempt. They also ranked in the 99th percentile in % of FGA from 3, and in the 98th percentile in PPP on 3FGA.
This man has the formula to win, and he's also proven he can get the players to commit, produce, and return. Roussell has also flexed his muscle in the transfer portal, getting key "under the radar" contributors to move to RVA.
Roussell isn't just the top mid-major candidate for a P4 job. He very well may be the best WBB coach in America. The only question: who will hit the jackpot with this hire?