Michigan’s fresh off a national championship, but they’re kicking off their title defense with a new head coach, Mike Boynton, who was actually fired from his last top job at Oklahoma State just a couple of seasons ago. This move is definitely the biggest shake-up of the offseason coaching carousel, and it puts Boynton on the hottest seat in college hoops as he steps into a program with the highest possible expectations.
From Fired to Champion’s Seat: Boynton’s Shot at Redemption
Boynton’s past at Oklahoma State saw him notch a 119-109 record over seven seasons, but only one NCAA Tournament appearance, culminating in a 12-20 finish and his firing in 2023-24. Talk about a roller coaster! He then spent two seasons as an assistant under Dusty May at Michigan. When May packed his bags for the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks after the Wolverines’ national championship season, Michigan first gave Boynton the interim tag, then locked him into a two-year contract. Boynton isn’t shying away from what he learned, telling reporters at Big Ten media days that his time with May was like a “sabbatical.” He explained he was “sitting next to this genius every day learning how to run a high-functioning corporation, how to identify great qualities in people specific to your needs as a basketball team and allow them to be great in those areas, how to delegate responsibilities, and how every day to show up and be even.” That’s a pretty strong statement, and Michigan fans are hoping he truly absorbed that genius-level knowledge because defending a national title is no joke.
Familiar Faces, Big Swings, and Wild New Head Coaches
Michigan wasn’t the only program making headlines with coaching changes. Over at Kansas State, they’ve brought in Casey Alexander, who boasts a solid 303-180 career record from stints at Stetson, Lipscomb, and Belmont. He’s replacing Jerome Tang, who went 26-10 and made a regional final his first year, only to follow that up with a 45-47 record over the next three seasons, leading to his dismissal.
Then there’s Will Wade, who is back at LSU for his second go-round after being fired in 2022 due to NCAA recruiting violations. Matt McMahon, who succeeded Wade, only managed a 60-70 record in four seasons and got fired himself. Wade, meanwhile, was out there leading McNeese and N.C. State to NCAA Tournament appearances, including a 20-14 season at N.C. State, proving he can still win. He went 105-51 with three NCAA berths in six seasons during his first run at LSU, so the talent is there, but everyone’s eyes will be on whether he can keep it clean this time.
North Carolina made a super unconventional move, tapping Michael Malone as their new head coach. This guy has zero previous ties to the program and absolutely no college head coaching experience. His resume? A 510-394 record as an NBA coach from 2013-25, including winning a title with the Denver Nuggets in 2023. He’s replacing Hubert Davis, who went 125-54 in five years and even took the Tar Heels to the NCAA championship game in 2022. That’s a huge shift from college veteran to NBA champion, and it’s going to be fascinating to see how it plays out in Chapel Hill.
N.C. State, left in the lurch by Wade, is turning to first-time head coach Justin Gainey, a former Wolfpack captain who was most recently on Rick Barnes’ Tennessee staff. And up in Syracuse, Gerry McNamara is back at his alma mater, where he holds career records for 3-pointers and minutes played. He’s fresh off leading Siena to a 23-12 record and an NCAA appearance last season, replacing Adrian Autry who was fired after three seasons with no NCAA berths. Even on the women’s side, Pauline Love is back at Alabama as head coach after a year as an assistant.
The college basketball season is right around the corner, and with all these major changes, there’s no telling who will surprise and who will struggle. Every single one of these coaches has something to prove, whether it’s defending a title, making a controversial comeback, or proving an unconventional hire can work. Get ready, because this season is set to be wild.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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