The 2026 NCAA Tournament hasn’t started yet, but the men’s college basketball coaching carousel is already spinning.
As of Monday, March 9, three jobs are already open — Kansas State, Georgia Tech and Boston College — with Arizona State and Providence reportedly set to follow. They aren’t blue-blood jobs, but some of them should be intriguing to potential candidates, while others are a daunting task to take.
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College basketball hot seat: 13 coaches who may be in trouble
As Power coaching positions become more available, here’s a ranking of them from being great opportunities to tough jobs.
1. Kansas State
Kansas State Wildcats mascot Willie the Wildcat gets the crowd going before the game against BYU Cougars inside Bramlage Coliseum on Jan. 3, 2026.
The best coaching job available in the country is one of the first ones that opened up. Kansas State isn’t the basketball power in-state rival Kansas is, but the Wildcats do have their own pedigree that makes it desirable.
The Wildcats have shown money isn’t an issue, whether its spending on the staff or roster. Being in the upper half of available resources will be attractive to candidates.
There’s enough history to show it won’t be impossible to succeed in Manhattan. Jerome Tang took Kansas State to the Elite Eight just three years ago and the past three coaches have reached that stage of March Madness at least once. The only downside is there’s the immediate expectation to contend in a crowded Big 12, but everything is available to do it.
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2. Georgia Tech
It feels like ages ago Georgia Tech was 40 minutes away from a national championship in 2004. It’s only won two games in four NCAA Tournament appearances since.
What’s been the problem is the entire college basketball world ran past the Yellow Jackets while it stood still. It hasn’t poured funds toward the program, Damon Stoudamire didn’t adapt and it led to some down times for a team that shouldn’t be as bad as it’s been. It does have history it can lean on, and is right in a major hotbed for talent in Atlanta. Its next coach would need to make that a priority to keep local talent close.
3. Arizona State
Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley puts his head down after a missed free throw against Arizona during a game at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe, on Jan. 31, 2026.
Bobby Hurley couldn’t get the Sun Devils acclimated to the Big 12, winning just 11 conference games in two seasons, leading to his potential departure after 11 seasons in Tempe.
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The Arizona Republic reported two people close to the ASU program said the news of Hurley’s exit was “premature.”
Hurley is at the end of his contract, and the school did not offer an extension, leaving his future in limbo for the 2025-26 season. That is usually a sign that the school intends to move on.
Tempe has been a tough place to coach, with no Sweet 16 appearance since 1995. Its in-state rival Arizona is a major player, and the Big 12 move only made it harder to navigate. However, there are pieces that make it possible to get out of the shadow of the Wildcats.
First, the location is a major bonus, in a top market that can generate revenue. The athletic department has shown an investment in sports — largely football and women’s basketball — and a reset is what men’s basketball needs. The fan support is pretty solid for a middling program, and would explode with actual success. Look no further than the excitement Molly Miller has generated on the women’s side.
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Even though Arizona State hasn’t been to the tournament since 2023, there’s plenty available for the next coach to find some success it has been seeking since the turn of the century.
4. Providence
It’s always interesting to see how schools where college basketball is king handle searches, especially in the Big East. Providence will reportedly be on the hunt again, trying to get itself out of the bottom half of the conference.
The Friars aren’t major title contenders, but they have history that shows it can be a successful program, evident in the 2022 Sweet 16 run. NCAA Tournament spots should be consistent. Providence is 47-51 in English’s three seasons. When you have rivals like Connecticut, St. John’s and Villanova miles ahead, it makes it very difficult to climb the standngs.
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The money appears to be there for the Friars, and they have a loyal fan base that makes things a bit easier for a new coach. You just can’t help but wonder if it’s going to be a multi-year task to get back to the expected contending level.
5. Boston College
It is quite the task to be in charge at Boston College.
The Eagles haven’t been much of a contender in nearly two decades. Their last NCAA Tournament appearance was in 2009, one of the longest droughts of any Power conference school. Basketball hasn’t been a priority in Chestnut Hill. There aren’t NIL funds or huge amounts of money coming in for staff. There’s also the added task of having to get people to just show up to games, as Conte Forum often resembles a ghost town.
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If there’s one positive, Boston College is still in the ACC so that should draw some interest. But it comes with a major warning label: It doesn’t get much tougher than this.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is best NCAA basketball coach opening? Ranking top Power jobs
