Over the past several years, men's college basketball has seen some of its most decorated and famous coaches leave the game.
Tobacco Road rivals Mike Krzyzewski and Roy Williams retired. Jay Wright and Tony Bennett both did, as well, though given their relative youth, their decisions were a bit more of a surprise. Jim Boeheim stepped aside at Syracuse after a 47-year run leading his alma mater. Bob Huggins resigned from West Virginia after a fateful car ride near a Taylor Swift concert in Pittsburgh.
That slew of exits has raised questions about the future of the sport in an era in which players can transfer more freely and earn money off their name, image and likeness, but beyond that, their departures created a void. For decades, those men had been the faces of the sport. Without them, who would step into that role?
An answer is starting to emerge, with the results of the 2025 NCAA Tournament providing the latest data points.
While this week’s Final Four will have two coaching stalwarts in Houston’s Kelvin Sampson and Auburn’s Bruce Pearl, it will also feature two coaches, Duke’s Jon Scheyer and Florida’s Todd Golden, who have yet to reach their 40th birthday.
College coaching is a profession that rewards those with patience, with many having to wait years to climb the ladder and work as an assistant coach before finally getting the opportunity to run their own program. To not only be a ...
