Championship week may dominate the headlines, but behind the scenes another major storyline is developing across college basketball.
The coaching carousel has already begun spinning. Programs across the country are making changes after disappointing seasons, while others are preparing for transitions after long tenures. Some openings offer strong resources and passionate fan bases. Others are difficult rebuilds that require patience and creativity.
As of Monday, March 9, several programs are already searching for their next leader. Some of these jobs will attract high-profile candidates immediately, while others may take longer to fill.
Here is a current power ranking of the most attractive college basketball head coaching openings across the country.
10. Western Michigan Broncos
Western Michigan decided to move on from head coach Dwayne Stephens after four seasons.
The Broncos struggled to gain traction in the Mid-American Conference during his tenure and finished near the bottom of the standings again this season. Western Michigan has reached the NCAA Tournament before, including its most recent appearance in 2014.
The program sits in a talent-rich recruiting region, and with the right hire the Broncos could become competitive in the MAC again.
9. Northern Illinois Huskies
Northern Illinois made a change after another difficult season in DeKalb.
The Huskies fired Rashon Burno after the team finished 9-21 this season. Burno went 48-106 across five seasons leading the program.
While the job comes with limited resources, the Chicago-area recruiting footprint gives the Huskies potential if the right coach can build strong local relationships.
8. Lamar Cardinals
Lamar is beginning a new era after parting ways with Alvin Brooks.
The Cardinals fired Brooks after he went 62-95 across five seasons leading the program. Lamar finished the 2025-26 season with a 12-19 record and missed the Southland Conference tournament after a difficult finish to the year.
The job still offers access to strong Texas recruiting pipelines, which could make it appealing to an ambitious coach looking to rebuild a program.
7. Ball State Cardinals
Ball State is another Mid-American Conference program entering the coaching market.
The Cardinals finished the season 12-19 and moved on from Mike Lewis after four seasons. Ball State has not reached the NCAA Tournament since 2000, but the program sits in a recruiting-friendly area of Indiana.
With the right leadership, the Cardinals could climb back toward the top half of the MAC.
6. Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles
Tennessee Tech is searching for a new direction after the end of John Pelphrey’s seven-year run.
The Golden Eagles have struggled to keep pace in the Ohio Valley Conference in recent seasons. While resources are limited, the OVC has historically been a league where the right coach can quickly build a competitive team.
5. Air Force Falcons
The Air Force Falcons job is one of the most unique positions in college basketball.
Joe Scott’s tenure ended after several difficult seasons, but coaching at a service academy comes with significant challenges. Recruiting is limited due to the military commitment required after graduation.
Still, disciplined teams have found success in the Mountain West before, which keeps the job intriguing for the right type of coach.
4. St. Bonaventure Bonnies
Schmidt spent 19 seasons leading the Bonnies and built the program into a respected Atlantic 10 contender. Replacing that stability will not be easy.
The job comes with limited resources, but St. Bonaventure has one of the most passionate fan bases in the conference.
3. Boston College Eagles
Boston College fired Earl Grant after another difficult season in the ACC.
The Eagles have struggled to gain momentum in the conference for several years, but the job still carries the prestige of competing in a power conference.
The challenge for the next coach will be navigating limited NIL resources while trying to build a roster capable of competing in the ACC.
2. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Georgia Tech fired Damon Stoudamire after three seasons in Atlanta.
The Yellow Jackets finished near the bottom of the ACC again this season, prompting the program to begin another rebuild. Despite the struggles, the job still carries significant upside.
Atlanta remains one of the most talent-rich recruiting regions in the country, giving Georgia Tech a major advantage if the right coach can tap into that pipeline.
1. Kansas State Wildcats
Kansas State remains the most attractive job currently open.
The Wildcats moved on from Jerome Tang earlier this season after a disappointing year in Manhattan. While the separation between Tang and the program created headlines, the job itself still offers strong resources and fan support.
Kansas State has a proud basketball tradition, a passionate fan base and an NIL pool expected to be among the best available for open jobs this cycle.
Because of those advantages, the Wildcats job is likely to attract some of the top candidates on the coaching market this spring.
More changes could be coming
As conference tournaments wrap up and the NCAA Tournament begins, more programs could join the coaching carousel.
Athletic directors across the country will evaluate their seasons over the next several weeks, and additional openings are almost certain to appear before the offseason settles.
For now, these programs represent the first wave of opportunities in what could become a very busy coaching cycle.