Story: Adam Nelson (@HD_DirtKing)
April firings lead to May hirings – here are bunch of things to kick off a new month…
John Calipari got rid of all eight graduate assistants at Arkansas. Ruthless business.
Army assistant Dr. Carson Cunningham is headed to Missouri State as an assistant. Last season was Cunningham’s first at West Point following a six year stint as the head coach at Incarnate Word. New Missouri State head coach Cuonzo Martin was an assistant at Purdue during Cunningham’s last season there as a player (2000-01).
It sounds like Evan Fisher is in the mix to join the Loyola (MD) staff as the Director of Basketball Operations. He served in a similar role at Mount St. Mary’s last season. Fisher played at Siena, and started his coaching career back in 2022 as an assistant Susquehanna.
I have heard that the search at D2 University of Charleston (WVA) is down to four or five. The names that I’ve heard include: Current UC assistant coach Max Bent, former West Virginia Tech head coach James Long, former Salem University head coach Brett Rector, and a current D2 head coach with ties to the area. This one should be wrapped up shortly.
A D2 opening in the mid-Atlantic – stay tuned….
Sounds like the search at D3 Wilson College (PA) is down to the final group. Names that I have heard here are Randolph Macon assistant coach Mike Maczko, and Stevenson assistant Jeff Smith. More on this one as I hear it.
The search at D3 Bridgewater (VA) is moving quickly. Some names making the rounds here are VMI assistant Austin Kenon, Johns Hopkins assistant Jack Barrett, Mike Maczko (see above), Hampden-Sydney assistant Bryson Gibson, Mary Washington assistant Mark Sansone, and current Bridgewater assistant Austin Buschang.
I have heard that the search at D3 Wartburg is over. Word on the street is that they are going to hire a current D3 head coach. Stay tuned…
A name that I keep hearing in the search to replace Kenny Anderson at NAIA Fisk is West Georgia assistant Jay Smith. Smith had previously spent three seasons as the head coach at Fisk and also served as an assistant at Reinhardt, Schoolcraft College, Wayne County CC and the University of Michigan-Dearborn. More on this search as I hear it.
The most interesting name that I’ve heard for the vacant MBB job at NAIA Point University (GA) is Bryan College WBB head coach Gabe Johnson. Not sure on other names here, but heard an official announcement here could come by tomorrow.
Two names that I have heard surrounding the search at NAIA Carroll College (MT) are Florida College associate head coach Jesse Repay (a former Carroll assistant), and Daniel Pearson, a Carroll alum who is currently coaching overseas. Not sure on a timeline here, but sounds like it could be wrapped up shortly.
You can check out the 2024 Coaching Changes Tracker presented by D1.relocation HERE. It contains all of the head coaching changes so far at the NCAA D1, D2, D3, NAIA, and JUCO levels.
