ACC Basketball: Ranking all 15 head coaches entering 2021-22 season
7. Kevin Keatts, North Carolina State
The 49-year-old has brought the Wolfpack back to relevance in the ACC after their disappointing final two seasons under Mark Gottfried. NC State won 20 games in each of his first three seasons, although the Wolfpack struggled last season, going just 14-11 and 9-8 in ACC play. NC State has reached the NIT quarterfinals in each of the last two postseasons.
6. Jim Larrañaga, Miami
Hot seat alert. The 71-year-old is under contract through the 2023-24 campaign, but unless the Hurricanes show marked improvement, I believe that Larranaga will be replaced following this upcoming season. Miami, 10-17 and 4-15 in 2020-21 is coming off its worst season since Larranaga took over the program in 2011. The Canes have been finished above 10th in the ACC the past three years. Larranaga is 200-130 overall during his tenure in South Florida.
5. Mike Brey, Notre Dame
Hot seat alert. Brey is an outstanding coach, but his time in South Bend may be running out. Notre Dame is coming off an 11-15 campaign which included going 7-11 in the ACC. The Fighting Irish have posted two losing seasons in the past four seasons and have not finished above .500 since 2016-17, the Irish’s last NCAA Tournament appearance.
Brey, whose contract runs out in June 2022, has been with Notre Dame since 2000 and has a 448-284 record. The Irish have reached the postseason 18 times under the 62-year-old. I don’t expect Notre Dame to fire Brey, but I don’t think he will return next season.
4. Leonard Hamilton, Florida State
The 73-year-old has been at FSU since 2002, but he has experienced his most success over the last five years. Hamilton, who is 378-228 with the Seminoles, has posted a 102-41 record over the last five years, including four straight NCAA appearances.
FSU lost quite a bit from last year’s squad, but Hamilton did bring in a few transfers, Caleb Mills (Houston) and Cam’Ron Fletcher (Kentucky).