We're already about a quarter of the way through the season if you can believe it. One month of games is still a relatively small sample size, but we have enough information to project whose stock is rising and falling through the lens of the coaching carousel. We've got a long way to go until March, but these coaches are turning heads for better or worse early on.
COACHES ON THE RISE
Patrick Sellers, Central Connecticut
After posting the first back-to-back 20-win seasons in program history, Pat Sellers is at it again to begin the 2025-2026 campaign. The Blue Devils are 5-2 with road wins over Boston College and Rutgers. Last year, CCSU was one possession away from their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2007, losing to St. Francis in the NEC title game. Sellers is in year five with the program and he's improved his win total every season. It'll be hard to top 25-7, but anything close with a NEC title will surely open a flood of opportunities for the Central Connecticut alumnus. While you're here, check out this feature piece on the Blue Devils from Joey Dwyer.
Clint Allard, UC San Diego
There's something to be said about continuity in a program. Clint Allard is the dictionary definition of continuity, spending nearly his entire adult life with UC San Diego. Allard is a UCSD alum and has been on the bench at his alma mater for 15 seasons. In his first year in the lead chair, he's off to a 7-0 start with an ESPN Events Invitational title under his belt. The Tritons are picking up right where they left off after a historic 30-5 season and NCAA tournament appearance. Despite full roster turnover and Eric Olen's departure to New Mexico, Allard is sustaining the program's momentum and has all the makings of a future star in the business.
George Halcovage, Buffalo
George Halcovage took over a Buffalo program looking to reestablish itself after Nate Oats' departure in 2019. The first two years were tough sledding, but it appears Halcovage has found his footing in year three. The Bulls are off to an 8-0 start with impressive wins over DePaul and Vermont. The biggest adjustment between the first two seasons and this year? Pace (and a lightened strength of schedule helps). Buffalo was a top-100 team in possessions per game the last two years, finishing 28th in the metric last season. This year? 241st in the country through eight games. As a result, effective field goal percentage is up, turnover rate is down and the Bulls lead the country in getting to the foul line. If Halcovage can sustain this hot start, his ability to build a roster and adapt to his personnel will not go overlooked.
John Groce, Akron
Since his departure from Illinois nine years ago, John Groce has done nothing but win. He's 174-90 with four NCAA Tournament appearances since arriving in Akron, and this year's squad looks poised to make it three MAC tournament titles in a row. The Zips are 6-2, with all six wins coming by at least 14 points. The two losses were to top-ranked Purdue and another likely NCAA Tournament team in Yale. Akron currently sits 57th in KenPom as of writing, 37 spots higher than their preseason rank. They're the only MAC team in the top 100 and are shooting an absurd 61.9% effective field goal percentage (5th in NCAA). It's only a matter of time before Groce gets another shot at a power conference gig.
Tony Skinn, George Mason
Tony Skinn was a hot name in last year's coaching carousel and wouldn't you know he's off to another great start in 2025. The third-year head coach is 8-0 in the young season, winning the Sunshine Slam MTE and dispatching all of their inferior opponents with relative ease. The schedule picks up over the next few weeks, but Skinn's staunch defense and his team's ability to get to the line are more than sustainable in tough stretches. At the end of last season, Skinn passed on a few high major opportunities and signed a contract extension with George Mason through the 2030 season. Despite that show of good faith, his buyout still sits at a relatively low $1.2M, leaving the door open for a top program to swoop in. Skinn's trajectory is on a much better path than his predecessor.
Honorable Mention: Jerrod Calhoun (Utah State), Josh Schertz (Saint Louis), Herb Sendek (Santa Clara), Eric Konkol (Tulsa), Richie Riley (South Alabama)
COACHES TRENDING DOWN
Kim English, Providence
This is supposed to be the year things turn around for Kim English. The cloud of Bryce Hopkins is gone, the NIL budget is healthy and the roster as a whole is upgraded from last year. Unfortunately for the Friars' head man, it hasn't quite gone to plan thus far. Providence is 4-4, with all four losses coming to high major opponents - teams the fan base expects to beat or at least be competitive with. The attempts to make adjustments from last season are there. Providence is playing up-tempo (a full seven possessions per game faster than last year), but they're struggling to make threes and guard the three-point line early on. Couple that with some visible frustration from the team's best player and you find yourself doing some soul-searching after just a few weeks. A silver-lining, sitting at 319th in KenPom's luck rating, the Friars are due for some positive shooting regression. If things don't turn around, English's future may be in jeopardy.
A.W. Hamilton, Eastern Kentucky
A.W. Hamilton was once considered a coach on the rise after two 20+ win seasons in his first five years at Eastern Kentucky. Since then, the shine of that early success has worn off. The Colonels are currently 1-6, with their lone win coming over NAIA Midway. They're ranked 272nd in KenPom, the lowest they've been since Hamilton's second season in Richmond. The biggest issue with this year's squad is their inability to generate turnovers - a calling card of Hamilton's "Most Exciting 40 Minutes in Sports" mantra. EKU is 345th in turnover rate, allowing teams to shoot a blistering 55.5% effective field goal percentage. Hamilton isn't in danger of losing his job, but his window to jump to a better opportunity is closing fast.
Drew Valentine, Loyola Chicago
As of writing, Loyola Chicago has dropped 188 (!) spots in KenPom, the worst of any team in the country. In previous years, the Ramblers' slow starts were because of injuries and a lack of continuity with their full roster. This year, they just haven't played well. After some late-game heroics to beat Cleveland State on opening night, Loyola has dropped seven straight games - all to mid-major opponents. Similar to EKU, the majority of the issues this team faces are on the defensive end. Loyola is currently 318th in adjusted defensive efficiency, the lowest the program has ever been in the KenPom era (since 1997). With the amount of money pumped into the roster this off-season, it's difficult to make excuses. Valentine isn't in danger of losing his job, but boosters will start asking questions if the bottom continues to fall out.
Wes Miller, Cincinnati
Wes Miller came into the season on the hot seat, and the Bearcats haven't done much to change that perception thus far. Cincinnati is 5-2, but they've dropped from 36th to 72nd in KenPom over that seven game span. Their most recent loss, at home to Eastern Michigan, did no favors to cool down a fan base expecting more from their once proud program. Miller's defense-first style has been well documented, but this year it's gone to the extreme. Defensively, Cincinnati is 6th in the country in adjusted efficiency - the best of the Miller era. Offensively, they're 215th, the worst in program history. This team simply struggles to make shots. The preseason departure of Jizzle James, last year's leading scorer, certainly hasn't helped getting the ball in the basket. The expectations are very clearly defined here - make the tournament or a change will be made.
Shaka Smart, Marquette
This is more of a philosophical trending down than anything else. Two years ago, Shaka Smart led Marquette to a two-seed and the Sweet 16 thanks in large part to a star guard from the transfer portal. Since then, Smart has essentially abandoned taking transfers at all costs. Last year, the Golden Eagles stumbled into the tournament and were bounced in the first round. Smart doubled-down on his no-portal philosophy this offseason and it appears it's finally catching up to him. Marquette is 4-4, with no wins over teams inside the KenPom top 200. Sure this team is 12th in minutes continuity, but the development pop from several of their returners just isn't there yet. In an era where teams are getting old and staying old via the portal, it doesn't seem sustainable to rely exclusively on your program's internal retention. If Marquette doesn't turn things around, does Smart turn on his philosophy?
Dishonorable Mention: Archie Miller (Rhode Island), Paul Mills (Wichita State), Earl Grant (Boston College), Chris Markwood (Maine), Jonas Hayes (Georgia State)
