In college basketball, the spotlight often shines brightest on the big-name programs in Power Five conferences. However, in mid-major basketball, talented coaches are gaining recognition for their coaching ability.
Here are 12 rising mid-major men’s basketball coaches, each yet to serve as a high-major head coach but ready to take the next step in their careers.
Ryan Odom, VCU
Odom is one of the most sought-after names on the coaching market. He has guided UMBC and Utah State to the NCAA Tournament as a head coach, and now has VCU poised for a tournament berth after leading them to the Atlantic 10 regular-season championship. Notably, he also has an NCAA Tournament win on his resume, having orchestrated UMBC’s historic 16-over-1 upset of Virginia. With his proven track record of success, Odom is more than ready for the challenge of leading a Power Five program.
Ben McCollum, Drake
McCollum had a historic run as the Division II Northwest Missouri coach, winning four national titles in 15 years. He garnered Division I coaching interest throughout the years but remained selective in his choices, ultimately moving to Drake before this season. He brought four players from Northwest Missouri, each of whom started for the Bulldogs this season, and has guided one of the season’s biggest surprises. Under his leadership, Drake has gone 30-3, securing the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament titles, and earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Jerrod Calhoun, Utah State
Calhoun has built a winning track record at every stop in his coaching career. In his first season at Utah State, he has the Aggies poised for an NCAA Tournament berth with an impressive 25–6 record. Before arriving at USU, Calhoun spent seven years at Youngstown State, leading the Penguins to their first-ever conference regular-season title in 2023. He compiled a 118–106 record and delivered five consecutive winning seasons — a remarkable turnaround for a program that had recorded just nine winning campaigns since joining Division I in 1981–82. Before his success at Youngstown State, Calhoun was the head coach at Division II Fairmont State, where he posted an outstanding 124–38 record over five seasons.
Alan Huss, High Point
Huss has been outstanding in his two years as head coach at High Point. After six seasons as an assistant coach at Creighton, he has flourished in his first head coaching role at the collegiate level. Last year, he guided High Point to a 27-9 record and a CBI runner-up finish. Building on that success, the Panthers have continued to impress this season, posting a 29-5 record and capturing the Big South Tournament title to earn their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
Bucky McMillan, Samford
McMillan posted a 333-74 record in 12 seasons as an Alabama high school boys basketball coach. Samford made an unconventional move, hiring McMillan as its head coach in 2020. The move has worked out well. Last season, Samford qualified for its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2000. McMillan has led Samford, who runs an up-tempo style, to four straight 20-plus win seasons in his five years at the helm.
Bryan Hodgson, Arkansas State
Hodgson is well-equipped for the modern landscape of college basketball, particularly with his success in leveraging the transfer portal to build a competitive roster. He spent four seasons at Buffalo and then four seasons as an assistant at Alabama under Nate Oats. He has brought a high-pace offense and an emphasis on 3-point shooting to Arkansas State. In his second season at Arkansas State, he led the Red Wolves to a share of the Sun Belt regular-season title and a 24-10 finish, falling just short in the tournament final. The 37-year-old head coach boasts a solid 44-27 record in his first two years at the helm.
Takayo Siddle, UNC Wilimington
Siddle faced challenges in his first season with the Seahawks, but he has since led the team to four consecutive 20-win seasons. This year, the Seahawks have a 27-7 record and clinched the CAA Tournament title, earning their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2017. At 38 years old, Siddle is an intriguing coaching prospect known for his up-tempo style emphasizing high-scoring, fast-paced play.
Niko Medved, Colorado State
Medved has guided Colorado State to the NCAA Tournament in two of the past three seasons. After a 5-5 start to the season, the Rams finished strong, closing the regular season with a 22-9 record and securing second place in the Mountain West Conference, putting them firmly in NCAA Tournament contention. This marks Medved’s fifth 20-win season in the past six years.
Russell Turner, UC Irvine
Turner has transformed UC Irvine into a perennial contender with NCAA Tournament aspirations every year. In his 15 seasons as head coach, he has steered the Anteaters to 13 consecutive winning seasons, including two NCAA Tournament appearances. Under his leadership, UC Irvine has also captured seven of the last 12 conference titles, solidifying the program as a consistent force in college basketball.
Brian Wardle, Bradley
Wardle has demonstrated his ability to revitalize mid-major programs at two different schools. He began his head coaching career at Green Bay, where he inherited a 14-18 team in 2010-11 and guided them to back-to-back 24-win seasons in 2013-14 and 2014-15, including a Horizon League championship in 2014. In 2015-16, he took over at Bradley, and despite a challenging 5-27 first season, he has transformed the program into a consistent contender, regularly competing for the Missouri Valley title. Over his tenure, Wardle has posted six 20-win seasons and led Bradley to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2018-19.
Robert Jones, Norfolk State
Jones is a proven winner, having led the Spartans to two NCAA Tournaments and securing at least a share of five MEAC regular-season titles. His ability to rebuild a program through dedication and hard work is evident. This season, Norfolk State finished with a 21-10 record and clinched the MEAC regular-season title.
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