Athletic directors often talk about “winning the press conference” when hiring their next coach. The goal is simple: make a move that energizes fans and media, driving attention, recruiting momentum, and ticket sales.
These programs appear to have done exactly that. Whether it’s landing a coach who fits their needs, pulling in someone who seemed out of reach, or hiring a coach coming off major success, these moves check the box.
Any of these hires could still fall short. Winning the press conference doesn’t guarantee winning on the court. But for now, each pairing makes sense.
Randy Bennett, Arizona State
After 25 years at Saint Mary’s, Randy Bennett built a perennial power and likely took the program as far as it could go. With one of the smallest enrollments and endowments in the West Coast Conference, Saint Mary’s is not ideally positioned for the NIL era, even with Gonzaga leaving. At 63, this felt like Bennett’s last, best opportunity to make a move.
Arizona State is a natural fit. The Sun Devils sit in the shadow of Arizona, but Bennett is used to competing with a behemoth after years of battling Gonzaga. He has consistently done more with less, and now returns to his home county. Bennett grew up in Mesa, just minutes from campus in Tempe. It always would have taken the right spot to pull him away, and ASU provided it. He should be able to win here.
Bryan Hodgson, Providence
Providence made a significant move in landing Hodgson, who turned South Florida into a winner. He has only been a head coach for three years, and the program has been burned before by flashy hires. The Keno Davis era still lingers for those in New England.
This situation feels different though. Hodgson comes from Nate Oats’ staff at Alabama and has built a strong reputation as a recruiter. Providence has shown a willingness to invest, and Hodgson left a good situation at South Florida to take this job.
Recruiting to Tampa is not difficult, especially for a coach like Hodgson. Providence presents a greater challenge, but he would not have made the move without confidence in his ability to win. At 39, he did not need to leave yet, which makes the decision more telling.
Justin Gainey, NC State
Gainey brings much-needed stability to NC State at a time when the program has lacked it. The Wolfpack gave Will Wade another shot at the Power Five level, which quickly led to his return to LSU. This hire signals a shift toward long-term continuity.
Gainey has long been viewed as a future head coach. While he has not yet held the top job, he has spent the past several seasons as Rick Barnes’ top assistant and brings 17 years of experience. He is certainly ready for this opportunity.
The job in Raleigh is not an easy one. Duke remains a powerhouse, and North Carolina made an aggressive hire of its own. Gainey will need to adjust quickly, but the fit makes sense for a program looking to reestablish itself.
Jerrod Calhoun, Cincinnati
Jerrod Calhoun has proven he can win, leading Utah State to two NCAA Tournament appearances in two seasons. Now he returns to his alma mater with the resources of a power conference program behind him.
Calhoun has won 20 or more games in four straight years, showing consistency across multiple stops. Utah State is a strong program with passionate support, but sustained success there still carries weight.
He steps into a Cincinnati program that has the resources and history, but the Bearcats have been searching for traction for quite some time now. If Calhoun can recruit at a Big 12 level, Cincinnati should be positioned to take a big step forward.
Gerry McNamara, Syracuse
There is a legitimate concern that this opportunity may have come too soon for McNamara. If it does not work, Syracuse could face a difficult identity stretch, and he has only been a head coach for two seasons.
That said, he has shown strong early promise, and the fan base is firmly behind him. Pushing Duke for 30 minutes with Siena should not happen, yet it did, and it speaks to his coaching ability.
McNamara will need to manage expectations and avoid being overwhelmed by the job. If he does, he has a real chance to bring Syracuse back to relevance.
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