Men’s college basketball is always busy when it comes to roster changes. This goes for coaches as much as it goes for players. There have been a lot of changes on the bench during this season, and they will affect the league in countless ways.
This article will discuss some of the most impactful colleague coaching changes for the 2024-25 season. The media have reported these, and the experts have already analyzed them.
Arkansas Razorbacks: John Calipari
The Arkansas Razorbacks have hired John Calipari, and it has caused quite a stir in the team and the league in general. The Razorbacks haven’t won any national titles, but they’ve been in the Final Four six times, and there’s a feeling that the team can do more.
“I’ve got to put a roster together,” Calipari said. “I just met with the team. There were three guys in there and they were all in the portal. We’ve got work to do, and I only want to tell you that I’m not that guy with a magic wand. That’s not who I am. I’m the grinder who comes every time. When you watch my team from the beginning of the year to the end of the year, we get better.”
Spinelli moves up from assistant coach to head coach for the Cougars. Before becoming an assistant coach, Spinelli was an interim head coach for Boston College. He’s widely considered one of the best coaches in the division, with over 20 years of experience in the league.
As an assistant, Spinelli led the recruiting and development of six current NBA players (Khris Middleton, DeAndre Jordan, Alex Len, Jake Layman, Jerome Robinson, and Ky Bowman).
“I was impressed with Scott’s vision to build our program into a conference contender,” Dr. Carroll, the Vice President /Director of Athletics, said. “His experience at Power Five programs and developing winning cultures, along with his demonstrated ability to recruit and develop student-athletes into elite performers, elevated Scott to this role. I am confident he can build champions at Chicago State University as we enter the Northeast Conference.”
Drake Bulldogs: Ben McCollum
Drake men’s basketball team named Ben McCollum its new head coach. McCollum is an Indiana native, and he spent more than a decade as head coach at NCAA Division II powerhouse Northwest Missouri State.
I am honored to be a part of the Drake basketball family,” McCollum said in a news release from Drake following the announcement. “We have seen the transition Drake basketball has made over the past few seasons to become one of the most successful mid-majors in that span.
In 15 seasons as the Bearcats head coach, McCollum compiled a career record of 394-91 – with a 241-63 record in conference play.
Florida Atlantic Owls: John Jakus
Florida Atlantic has hired Baylor associate head coach John Jakus as the Owls’ basketball coach and announced it a few months ago. He replaced Dusty May, who was, in turn, hired by Michigan.
This year’s team, which featured every eligible player from the previous year’s Final Four squad, went 25-9 and reached as high as No. 7 in the AP Top 25. However, they were also knocked out in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, losing to No. 9 seed Northwestern 77-65 in overtime.
“I’m both honored and humbled to be the head coach at Florida Atlantic University,” Jakus said in a statement. “This program has been in such great hands, and I greatly respect what Dusty May, his staff, and the players have accomplished. FAU has been one of the best teams in the nation the last two years and I am so fortunate to carry on that tradition.”
James Madison Dukes: Preston Spradlin
JMU announced the hiring of Morehead State’s Preston Spradlin. It’s been reported that the former Ohio Valley Conference coach of the year has signed a six-year deal with the Dukes. The team had pretty good results with the previous coach when they tied for the most regular-season wins in Division I men’s basketball this season, posting a 31-3 record.
“Preston stood out at the top of our list as we researched candidates based upon the resume that he’s built at a very young age as a head coach,” JMU Director of Athletics Jeff Bourne said. “Once we met with him, it was even more evident that he’s the total package in a head coach.”
Ohio State Buckeyes: Jake Diebler
Jake Diebler was named the head coach of Ohio State Buckeyes. He’s the 15th coach in the program’s history. Diebler first worked with Ohio State basketball in 2014, spending three seasons as a video coordinator on Thad Matta’s staff. After that, he became an assistant coach at Vanderbilt. Diebler held the same position at Ohio State under Chris Holtmann.
“It’s a blessing and a privilege to serve this program, and I’m excited for this opportunity,” Diebler said. “I’d like to thank Ross Bjork and President Carter for believing in me and my vision moving forward. Ohio State basketball is special and means so much to me and my family. I look forward to serving the entire Ohio State basketball family as best as I possibly can.”
Washington State Cougars: David Riley
Washington State hired David Riley as its men’s basketball coach. Riley is the two-time Big Sky Conference coach of the year. The transfer comes at a time when the Cougars are in a very unfavorable spot. Riley had three successful seasons as coach at Eastern Washington. The contract will cover six years, and Riley is 35 years old.
“Throughout the process, Dave’s coaching acumen was evident, as was his ability to create a winning culture. In just three seasons, he has emphasized player development through a fast-paced, high-powered offense that allows his student-athletes to play free and confidently,” Washington State interim athletic director Anne McCoy said.
Which one of these shake-ups are you most excited about, and which one will affect the teams the most?
What are the Odds?
Along with coaching changes affecting the wins and losses of a program, there are also betting odds that are interesting to calculate as well with new college basketball coaches. ANd as much as sports betting becomes more main stream, this is worth mentioning as well.
It’s not easy to factor in everything that goes into deciding on the team’s odds of winning, and sports betting should always be done responsibly, but if one of these top college basketball coaches is looking like they will add a spark to one of these programs, you can click here to learn more about this process.
Men’s College Basketball Coaching Changes for 2024-25 Conclusion
Whether you are a die-hard fan of one of these schools, a fan of the coach, or just a casual observer, it is always fun to check out new programs and see what a new coach can offer. So make sure to follow along with these different college basketball coaches this season and see which ones can turn around their new program for the better!
