Arkansas State Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics Jeff Purinton announced Thursday that head men’s basketball coach Bryan Hodgson has signed a new agreement that extends his contract to March 31, 2031.
“The rapid rise and growth of our program under Coach Hodgson has been remarkable and generated tremendous excitement with our fan base,” said Purinton. “The great success we’ve had this year alone has garnered attention across the country, enhancing our brand while putting Arkansas State in the national spotlight. The outstanding job Coach Hodgson, his staff and our student-athletes have done both in the community and on the court continues to provide us with new opportunities, so we’re obviously excited about the future of our men’s basketball program under his direction.
“Our Athletics Department, University and System leadership remained completely aligned throughout this process, which couldn’t have been completed without the support provided by Chancellor Dr. Todd Shields, System President Dr. Brendan Kelly and the Board of Trustees.”
In the midst of his second season at A-State, Hodgson has led the Red Wolves to a 17-5 overall record this season and reached 37 total victories faster than any head men’s basketball coach in school history. Following his team’s success last year, including winning 20 games for just the seventh time in the program’s 97-year history and reaching the Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship game for the first time since 2007, Arkansas State was the preseason pick to win the league in 2024-25 for the first time ever.
“I want to thank Jeff Purinton, Dr. Todd Shields, Dr. Brendan Kelly and the ASU Board of Trustees for their continued confidence, support and vision,” said Hodgson. “This is a special place with an outstanding fan base that has really rallied around our team with great passion. My family and I are proud to be part of this community, and I’m honored to be the head men’s basketball coach at Arkansas State University. We’re excited about what this team and our community have been able to accomplish together, and we’re looking forward to elevating our program even higher.”
Under Hodgson’s guidance, the Red Wolves have already attained unprecedented achievements this year. Not only did A-State defeat then-ranked No. 16/15 Memphis for the highest-ranked win in program history, it also claimed the sixth-largest comeback victory in the history of Division I college basketball after overcoming a 27-point second-half deficit against preseason American Athletic Conference-favorite UAB.
This year’s team has also achieved its highest KenPom and NCAA NET rankings in school history and is currently the highest rated Sun Belt team in each one at No. 91. A-State defeated Appalachian State last week on ESPN2 after playing its first nationally-televised home game last season since 1997.
A-State has accumulated an 11-0 record this season at home, where its average attendance of 4,911 is currently the second highest in the Sun Belt Conference. It’s also the program’s highest average since 2003-04 and represents a 173 percent increase since the 2022-23 season.
“The excitement about our men’s basketball program can be felt across our entire campus with our student body, faculty and staff, which is a direct reflection of both the success we’ve enjoyed on the court and the leadership Coach Hodgson provides,” said A-State Chancellor Dr. Todd Shields. “The enthusiasm has spread throughout our community, to every corner of the state, and around the country so we’re excited to announce this extension for Coach Hodgson during a time of great momentum for A-State men’s basketball.”
Hodgson’s positive impact was felt immediately upon his arrival to Jonesboro as A-State was one of just five programs in the nation under a first-year head coach to go from 20-plus losses in 2022-23 to 20-plus victories in 2023-24. It was also one of just two programs in the country under a first-year head coach to claim 20 wins against Division I opponents.
Arkansas State won 11 Sun Belt games for just the second time over the previous decade and earned the No. 4 seed in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament after being picked to finish ninth in the league’s preseason coaches’ poll. Hodgson went on to be named a Joe B. Hall Award finalist last season as one of the nation’s top first-year head coaches.
“I want to commend Coach Hodgson, his staff and our student-athletes on their hard work and commitment to elevate our men’s basketball program,” said ASU System President Dr. Brendan Kelly. “Along with Jeff Purinton, Dr. Shields and our ASU Board of Trustees, I’m excited we were able to complete this contract extension for Coach Hodgson as A-State men’s basketball continues to excel.”
Hodgson, widely regarded as one of the nation’s top recruiters, and A-State signed the highest ranked recruit in school history this year, and since 2023, has signed multiple top-150 prospects as well as highly-touted transfers such as 2025 Preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year Kobe Julien.
Announced as Arkansas State’s 17th all-time head men’s basketball coach on March 22, 2023, Hodgson’s previous contract was set to expire on March 31, 2028.
Arkansas State’s Hodgson extended through 2031 season
