College basketball has always been a results-driven business, but the modern era has changed the pace entirely. With NIL collectives, the transfer portal, and instant roster turnover, coaches are no longer granted the luxury of time. Fan bases expect quick fixes. Administrators expect postseason appearances. Donors expect progress they can see in real time.
By early February, excuses fade. Nonconference optimism gives way to hard truths once league play exposes weaknesses. Some programs simply have not lived up to their preseason expectations. Others are sliding backward after brief success. And for a select group of coaches, the remainder of the 2025–26 season may determine whether they return next fall.
On New Year's Eve, our very own Joey Loose gave his hot seat check. As we now know deep into conference play, here’s an updated look at those seats.
Jeff Capel – Eight years in, patience is wearing thin at Pittsburgh
Capel has had time to build the program, but the results have stalled. One NCAA Tournament appearance in eight seasons is difficult to justify, especially with home losses to teams Pitt should beat. Fan engagement has dipped, and the sense of direction feels unclear as ACC play ramps up. The Panthers are 9-14 overall and in last place in the ACC at 2-8.
Jake Diebler – Early goodwill fading fast in Columbus
Diebler earned his job with an impressive interim run, but Ohio State expected a clear step forward. Close losses and uneven Big Ten play have kept the Buckeyes stuck in neutral. At a program with deep resources, hovering around the middle of the league is rarely enough. The Buckeyes are 4-7 overall and 6-5 in league play.
Kim English – A strong start followed by troubling regression
The Friars sit in last place in the Big East. They are 9-13 overall and 2-9 in conference games. English brought energy to Providence early, but that momentum has cooled. A middling record and missed chances in Big East play have raised questions about long-term direction. Fair or not, early success raised expectations that have not been met.
Earl Grant – One good season feels far away
Grant’s 20-win season once looked like a turning point. Since then, Boston College has drifted back toward the bottom of the ACC. Losses to teams outside the power structure have made it harder to sell progress, and time may be running out. Another casualty in the ACC, as they are 2-7 in the conference and 9-13 overall
Bobby Hurley – Longevity without a breakthrough
Hurley has survived more than a decade in Tempe, but NCAA Tournament success has been minimal. Now in a demanding Big 12, Arizona State has struggled to establish an identity. Without a surprise surge, the question becomes how long near-misses are acceptable. The Big12 has not been kind to them, as they started the season 9-4, and have since dropped to 11-11.
Wes Miller – Competitive, but not competitive enough
Cincinnati has not been bad under Miller, but it also has not been where the program expects to be. Defensive effort remains, but offensive inconsistency and another potential tournament miss put real pressure on a coach hired to restore national relevance. Anther Big 12 team tAnotherhat sits at 11-11. The Bearcats are 3-6 in conference action.
Porter Moser – Strong starts, familiar finishes at Oklahoma
Moser’s tenure at Oklahoma has followed a frustrating pattern. Nonconference play often brings optimism, but conference play has repeatedly undone it. The Sooners have struggled to sustain success once league games begin, and extended losing streaks have become a recurring issue. With just one NCAA Tournament appearance and another season trending toward the bottom half of the SEC, patience is thinning. Oklahoma is a program that expects consistency and postseason relevance, and unless there’s a meaningful turnaround, Moser’s future will remain very much in question. The Sooners are 1-8 in the SEC and 11-11 overall, and hav currently dropped eight straight games.
Lamont Paris – Was the NCAA run the exception?
Paris proved he could get South Carolina into the tournament once. The concern is everything around that season. If the Gamecocks again finish near the bottom of the SEC, administrators will have to decide whether that high point was sustainable or simply lightning in a bottle. The Gamecocks are 11-12 overall and 2-8 in league play.
Steve Pikiell – From breakthrough to backslide
Pikiell deserves credit for making Rutgers relevant again, but recent seasons have undone much of that progress. Defensive toughness has slipped, wins have dried up, and the Scarlet Knights are once again fighting uphill in the Big Ten. While theleague is relentless, 9-14 season with 2-10 inBig Ten games won't cut it.
Shaka Smart – A sudden collapse no one saw coming
Smart looked secure after multiple NCAA appearances and a Big East title. This season reinforces how fast things can change. Poor performances, a lack of signature wins, and an ugly start to conference play have turned quiet confidence into real concern. The Golden Eagles are 8-15 overall and 3-9 in the Big East.
Jerome Tang – Big expectations, limited returns
Tang’s Elite Eight run still looms large, but recent seasons have not matched the investment Kansas State has made in its roster. Losses that raise eyebrows and a lack of upward momentum have made patience harder to justify. Kansas State is dead last in the Big 12, at 1-8. They are 10-12 overall.
Others in Consideration
- Adrian Autry, Syracuse Orange
- Steve Forbes, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
- Penny Hardaway, Memphis Tigers
- Matt McMahon, LSU Tigers
- Wayne Tinkle, Oregon State Beavers
- Denzel Valentine, Loyola Ramblers
Looking Ahead
The modern coaching hot seat is less about loyalty and more about trajectory. Administrators want to know one thing: is this program clearly moving forward? If the answer is no, change becomes inevitable.
Over the next few weeks, some of these coaches will quiet the noise with late-season pushes. Others will not. In college basketball, the line between stability and upheaval is thinner than ever, and right now, these seats are only getting hotter.