NCAA Basketball: 10 best mid-major hires of 2024 coaching carousel

Austin Claunch - UTSA Roadrunners

Claunch began his head coaching career at Nicholls State in 2018 at the age of 29, replacing Richie Riley who left to be the head coach at Southern Alabama. As one of the youngest coaches in college basketball, Claunch led Nicholls State to four-straight .500+ seasons in his five years leading the Colonels -- an impressive feat considering the fact Nicholls State is a difficult job in a difficult conference.

After leaving Nicholls State to serve as an assistant under Nate Oats, helping lead Alabama to the first-ever Final Four in program history, Claunch will take his coaching talents to San Antonio, Texas, hoping to rejuvenate a UTSA program in just its second year in the AAC. As one of the younger, up-and-coming coaches in the college basketball coaching industry, it’s only a matter of time before UTSA gets back on track.

Jerrod Calhoun - Utah State Aggies

Jerrod Calhoun, who stems from the Bob Huggins coaching tree, served as an assistant at West Virginia from 2007-2012 before taking the job at Division II Fairmont State, leading the Fighting Falcons to the NCAA Division II title game in 2017 before accepting the job at Youngstown State.

While at Youngstown State -- one of the more difficult jobs in the Horizon League -- Calhoun led the Penguins to five straight .500+ win seasons including back-to-back 20+ win seasons -- something that hasn’t been done in school history. Although Calhoun’s coaching stops have all been on the eastern side of the country, making it somewhat of an odd fit geographically at Utah State, given Calhoun’s track record, there is no doubt he will continue Utah State’s winning ways.