NCAA Basketball: 3 mid-major coaches likely to land a power conference job in 2019

These mid-major coaches shouldn’t get too comfortable leading programs in relative obscurity this season.

While our focus is trained throughout the year on power conference teams, mid-major darlings steal our hearts in March. We suddenly root for the Loyolas and Nevadas of the world to show up the big boys.

Mid-major programs may be fun to root for, but they never have the prestige or financial backing the power conference programs do. Inevitably, coaches who cut their teeth in the lower rungs of college basketball make their way to the penthouse of the sport.

This offseason didn’t see many coaching leaps from mid-major to major status. Dan Hurley made the slight jump from Rhode Island to Connecticut. Chris Mack moved from Xavier to Louisville. Kermit Davis received arguably the only true promotion, elevated from Middle Tennessee State to Ole Miss.

The rest of the few power conference openings were filled by former head coaches and assistants. It’s a good way to keep the coaching ranks closed off to those who may have earned their shot, but aren’t as sexy of a hire.

Next offseason could be very different, though. There are several coaches poised to make the big leap.

Here are three that should find themselves in major jobs next year.