Story: Adam Nelson (@HD_DirtKing)
Denver Search Nearing the Finish Line
Sounds like the search at Denver is close to wrapping up. One name that has been gaining steam here over the past few days is MSU Moorhead head coach Tim Bergstraser. In his three seasons at Moorhead, he has gone 75-22 (.773), including capturing the NSIC title this past season with a 25-9 record, and advancing to the NCAA D2 Central Region Championship.
Samford Search Getting Ready to Heat Up
Still early at Samford, but former Stanford and UAB head coach Jerod Hasse’s name keeps coming up surrounding this one. Hasse, who also worked as an assistant to Roy Williams and Kansas and UNC, has a 206–180 (.534) career mark between his time at UAB (2012-16) and Stanford (2016-24). Working on more names here now.
Cleveland State Conducts Zoom with Coaching Legend
Word on the street is that Bob Huggins had an initial Zoom with Cleveland State this past Friday morning. The former West Virginia / K-State / Cincinnati / Akron head coach has been out of coaching since 2023. Obviously the other popular name here is Mizzou assistant (and former Cleveland State assistant) Rob Summers. He was part of the staff that had a ton of success at CSU under Dennis Gates.
Tarleton Assistant Reportedly Leading at New Mexico Highlands
I have heard that Tarleton State assistant Zach Settembre is the leader at D2 New Mexico Highlands. He is in his second stint with Billy Gillispie at Tarleton, following a stretch as an assistant at New Mexico State. Settembre also served as an assistant at Coastal Carolina and as the head coach at Tallahassee CC.
Spartan Staffer Gaining Momentum at Central Michigan
The hot name at Central Michigan is Michigan State assistant Jon Borovich. Borovich is in his third year at MSU, and has also been an assistant at Northwestern, Northern Illinois, Dayton, and Oakland. The Michigan native played at Central Michigan (1997-2001), and started his coaching career as a GA as Michigan State.
Florida Tech Search Could Wrap Soon
The search at D2 Florida Tech could be winding down. A name that I have heard here multiple times is Wofford associate head coach Will Murphy. Murphy has been at Wofford for the past eight seasons, and also worked at his alma mater Wake Forest.
Former Pro Surfacing at Barry (FL)
A name making the rounds at D2 Barry University (FL) is former UNC standout Dante Calabria. Following his graduation in 1996, Calabria spent 14 years playing professionally overseas before he got into coaching. He is currently back overseas in a coaching role, but did serve as the head coach at Keiser University (FL) in 2017-18, and also worked as an assistant at Barry from 2019-21. Working on more names here as well.
Veteran Coach in Mix at D3 St. Scholastica
I have heard that Doug Novak is involved in the job at D3 St. Scholastica. He spent last season as women’s assistant at George Washington (and interim head coach at the end of the season). He also worked as an assistant (and interim head coach) on the women’s side at Mississippi State, as well as Army and Northern Kentucky. Novak has also been an assistant on the men’s side at The Citadel and Tulane, and was the head coach at Bethel (2013-21) and Anderson (1999-2006).
More D2 / NAIA Buzz…
Working on….an NAIA in Michigan sounds like it has opened, and I have heard that D2 UMary is done – will hire a current NAIA head coach. More on these moves shortly.
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].
