Busting Brackets
Fansided

NCAA Basketball: 10 best coaching hires from the 2018 off-season

By Tristan Freeman

WICHITA, KS - MARCH 15: Head coach Kevin Keatts of the North Carolina State Wolfpack calls out instructions in the first half against the Seton Hall Pirates during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at INTRUST Arena on March 15, 2018 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
WICHITA, KS - MARCH 15: Head coach Kevin Keatts of the North Carolina State Wolfpack calls out instructions in the first half against the Seton Hall Pirates during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at INTRUST Arena on March 15, 2018 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
DURHAM, NC – DECEMBER 02: Head coach Craig Smith of the South Dakota Coyotes reacts during their game against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 96-80. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC – DECEMBER 02: Head coach Craig Smith of the South Dakota Coyotes reacts during their game against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 96-80. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

10. Mark Gottfried to Cal State Northridge Matadors

Previous coach and record: Reggie Theus 6-24 (3-13)

It’s true that he did a poor coaching job in his final year at NC State, by Gottfried is still someone who has great recruiting ties. CSUN finished in last place in the Big West and will lose two of the team’s top three scorers for next year.

California is a gold mine for basketball recruits and there is no powerhouse in the conference. That allows the Matadors to make a big leap and possibly return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in a decade. That will be great for both the program, as well as a coach who will want to return to the power conference.

9. Craig Smith to Utah State Aggies

Previous coach and record: Tim Duryea 17-17 (8-10)

After leading Summit League’s South Dakota to the program’s best seasons in D-1 Basketball, Smith has moved up to the Mountain West, hoping to take a middle-of-the-road team up the conference ladder.

Utah State went from dominating the WAC to taking a step back in a new league. Yet despite the injuries and shortcomings, the Aggies show promise to becoming a contender alongside Nevada, San Diego State, and others. He’ll just have to deal with the Martin twins at the Wolf Pack rather than Mike Daum at South Dakota State.

Home/NCAA Basketball News