Story: Adam Nelson (@HD_DirtKing)
Nicholls State Head Coach on the move????
A lot of chatter around Nicholls State head coach Tevon Saddler possibly joining Will Wade’s staff at NC State. Saddler, the youngest D1 head coach in the country, took over at Nicholls State back in 2023. He’s gone 40-17 in his two years, including 20-13 this past season. Also some talk lately that the former Maryland assistant could join his former boss Kevin Willard at Villanova. Either way, it’s a very active situation right now in Thibodaux. Stay tuned…
Denver Coaching Search Heats Up
I have heard that the search at Denver is starting to get narrowed down a bit, and according to multiple sources the administration will meet with “several” candidates this week in San Antonio. Names I’ve heard include current D2 head coaches, and a few D1 assistants. No search firm being used here (a rarity these days). More on this one when I can.
Bryant Coaching Search Rumors: Former Head Coaches, Big East Assistants in the Mix
Most interesting names making the rounds at Bryant are former Iona head coach Tobin Anderson, Georgetown assistant Brian Blaney, and St. John’s assistant Bob Walsh. Anderson had just completed his second season at Iona before he was oddly dismissed earlier this month. Prior to Iona, he led FDU to a 21-16 record in his only season there in 2023, which included an upset of #1 Purdue in the NCAA Tournament. Anderson may also be involved with an assistant job at Iowa. Blaney has been at Georgetown for the past two season, and was with Ed Cooley as an assistant at Providence from 2011-23 before that. Walsh, the former head coach at Maine, went 203-64 (.760) as the head coach at nearby Rhode Island College (2005-14), and also spent seven seasons on the staff at Providence.
Associate Head Coach Emerging as Possibility for Navy Job
The name that keeps popping up at Navy is current associate head coach Jon Perry. He has been on the Midshipmen staff for the past 12 seasons and had been with former head coach Ed DeChellis’ for the past 23 years. It will be interesting to see what effect (if any) the recently announced retirement of AD Chet Gladchuk will have on the search at Navy.
D2 Upper Iowa Begins Zoom Interviews
I have heard that Zoom interviews are about to get underway at D2 Upper Iowa. Some of the names that I’ve heard here include South Dakota assistant Casey Kasperbauer, former Ft. Lewis head coach Bob Pietrack, and Northern Michigan associate head coach Keil Ganz. More as I hear it on this one.
D3 Messiah Narrows Coaching Search to Four
It sounds like the search at D3 Messiah is down to four, with on-campus interviews about to begin. Names that I have heard here are Emory assistant Jacob Fleegle, LeTourneau associate head coach Joel Wallace, Messiah alum Jordan Martz, with at least one more to round out the final four.
Things I’m chasing…
Tracking a rumor of a small college head coach from the South possibly joining the staff at Longwood. Stay tuned for more on this one.
Also, following another possible merger / closure of a D3 school in the Mid-Atlantic region. Could know more this afternoon. *UPDATE: D3 Rosemont merging with Villanova in 2027 more HERE.
From the Prep World
Montverde Academy (FL) has hired Steve Turner as their new head basketball coach. He has most recently been the head coach at Gonzaga College HS in DC. He replaces Kevin Boyle, who departed for Spire Academy (OH) earlier this spring.
For a full list of coaching changes across NCAA D1, D2, D3, NAIA, and JUCO levels, check out the 2025 Coaching Changes Tracker presented by D1.relocation [HERE].
