The 2026 college basketball coaching carousel spun like crazy, serving up 13 high-major changes and some absolutely wild moves. We’re talking shocking late-cycle stuff that’s got everyone buzzing, like Dusty May bouncing from Michigan for the Dallas Mavericks gig in the NBA! Can you believe it? May’s jump meant Michigan, who’s got a national title defense coming up, elevated Mike Boynton to head coach on a two-year deal. That was the Big Ten’s only change, but the ACC? They had five jobs swap hands, and one of those was the North Carolina job, which got really interesting.
UNC Went Rogue, Wade Went Back: The Unconventional Hires Shaking Things Up
North Carolina, a program that usually sticks to its “Carolina family” connections, did the unthinkable. They replaced Hubert Davis with former NBA championship head coach Mike Malone! Yeah, the same Malone who was just out of coaching in the 2025-26 season after the Nuggets fired him. Talk about an unconventional hire for the Tar Heels. Meanwhile, their rival NC State didn’t go that route, bringing back beloved former player Justin Gainey to take over from Will Wade. And get this: Will Wade, who was fired from LSU four years ago under a cloud of NCAA scrutiny, just went right back to the Tigers after only one season in Raleigh! The drama in high-major coaching never quits, does it?
The Smartest Long-Term Bet Isn’t Who You Think It Is
While everyone’s focused on the flashier moves, the real story for long-term success might just be Alan Huss at Creighton. Experts are looking past just the 2026-27 season; we’re talking about who’s gonna stick and shine for nine or ten years. Matt Norlander from CBS Sports is all in on Huss, and honestly, it makes total sense. The 47-year-old made a gutsy move, leaving a sweet gig at High Point, a well-resourced mid-major where he already took the Panthers to the NCAA Tournament! He walked away from that success to go back to Omaha. Why? Because he was an assistant under Greg McDermott there, knows the program inside and out, and is stepping in as the coach-in-waiting. Huss is a smart coach, and he’s got a long leash to build on what McDermott created. Plus, Creighton has a top-25 arena and environment, a great fanbase, and the resources to consistently compete. This isn’t just a good hire; it’s a strategic marriage that could pay off big time for a decade.
With the 2026-27 season creeping closer, you better believe all eyes are on these new coaches. Will Malone pull off the unexpected at UNC? Can Wade avoid more NCAA trouble at LSU? But if you want to know who’s set up for the most enduring success, keep an eye on Alan Huss at Creighton. He just might be making the biggest waves nobody’s even talking about yet.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply