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15 coaches on the rise entering the 2024-25 season

It’s never too early to start looking ahead to the upcoming year!

Check below for our list of 15 head coaches on the rise entering the 2024-25 college basketball season.

This list does not include coaches from the Mountain West.

In no particular order:

Amir Abdur-Rahim, South Florida: One year after leading Kennesaw State to 26 wins and an NCAA Tournament appearance, Abdur-Rahim led South Florida to 25 victories and its first-ever American Athletic Conference regular season title. This guy doesn’t just have the chops to be a head coach in a power conference — he has the chops to be a star as a head coach in a power conference. Buy stock now.

Bucky McMillan, Samford: It’s hard to believe that McMillan was a high school coach just five years ago. In his last three seasons at Samford, McMillan has won 71 games including 29 a year ago which resulted in an NCAA Tournament berth. If there’s an opening in the SEC in the next few years, he’ll be on the short list.

Chris Mack, Charleston: Mack has yet to coach a game at Charleston, but he immediately became a high-major coaching candidate as soon as he returned to college basketball last spring. While his tenure at Louisville didn’t go as planned, Mack was dominant at Xavier as he took the Musketeers to to the Elite Eight in 2017. Xavier was also a one seed in the 2018 NCAA Tournament and a two seed in the 2016 NCAA Tournament under Mack’s watch. If Charleston wins 20 or more games this season, Mack could be in high demand next spring.

Bashir Mason, St. Peter’s: Mason was a three-time NEC Coach of the Year at Wagner and finally broke through last March when he led St. Peter’s to the NCAA Tournament. Only 40 years old, Mason has already been a Division 1 head coach for 12 seasons. He’ll be a name to watch moving forward as long as the Peacocks remain the MAAC’s top tier.

Robert Jones, Norfolk State: All this guy does is win. In the last four years, Jones has led the Spartans to two NCAA Tournaments and at least a share of three MEAC regular season titles. A Queens native, Jones is tailor made for a program that’s looking to rebuild with hard work and perspiration. Remember: He cut his teeth in this business at the non-Division I (New Paltz, Bard) and high school (St. Mary’s, Manhasset) levels.

Matt Langel, Colgate: Langel is either going to move to a higher level or he’s going to have a statue built in his honor in Hamilton, New York. The 46-year old head coach has coached in the last five NCAA Tournaments and won at least a share of six straight Patriot League regular season titles. Thanks to Langel, Colgate has become a mid-major dynasty in Upstate New York.

Will Wade, McNeese: People can say whatever they want about Wade’s past, but if you’re looking for a head coach to win at a high level in a power conference, this guy should be cemented at the top of the list. After sitting out the 2022-23 season, Wade returned to college basketball a year ago and led McNeese to 30 wins and a trip to March Madness. The Cowboys should be even better in 2024-25. A little known fact about Wade: He’s still the only head coach at VCU to win an NCAA Tournament game since Shaka Smart left the Rams’ program in 2015 for Texas. Wherever Wade goes, he wins big.

Donte Jackson, Grambling: A true grinder, Jackson has paid his dues in the coaching profession. A former NAIA and Division II head coach, Jackson reaped the fruits of his labor last season when he led Grambling to its first ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Keep a close eye on this guy over the next few years.

Speedy Claxton, Hofstra: This former NBA point guard has led his alma mater to a combined 66 wins and three 20-win seasons in his first three years as a head coach. Claxton has also never finished lower than third in the CAA regular season standings. If the Pride can break through and get to the NCAA Tournament, Claxton has the resume, experience, and pedigree of someone who may get a long, hard look from a higher level.

Chris Gerlufsen, San Francisco: He may not be getting the same attention as his predecessors — Todd Golden (Florida) and Kyle Smith (Stanford) — with the Dons, but Gerlufsen is more than capable. Several WCC coaches have raved about his X and O acumen and the results speak for themselves. San Francisco has won a combined 43 games in its two years under Gerlufsen and should continue to be at the top of WCC standings under his stewardship in 2024-25.

Bryce Drew, Grand Canyon: Drew has averaged 23.5 wins per season in the four years that he’s been at Grand Canyon, which has been highlighted by three NCAA Tournament appearances. If he desires to return to the power conference level, Drew has the requisites to again be the leader of a high-major program. Another thing to keep a close eye on: The team that he’s about to coach may be the best one that he’s had since he took over the Antelopes’ program in 2020.

Kenny Blakeney, Howard: A Washington D.C. native, Blakeney has led the Bison to back-to-back appearances in the last two NCAA Tournaments. A strong recruiter who has added multiple players from power conferences during his time at Howard, the 52-year Blakeney has the pedigree, temperament, and coaching ability to continue to ascend. Remember: This guy was a part of two teams at Duke that won back-to-back national titles in 1991 and 1992.

James Jones, Yale: Is it an oversight or an insult? Since 2016, Jones has led Yale to four NCAA Tournament appearances, two NCAA Tournament wins, and at least a share of four Ivy League regular season titles. Somehow though, his name is never mentioned as a serious candidate for openings at the power conference level. A non self-promoter, Jones still has plenty of mileage left in his career and would be a sneaky good hire by any high-major program in the future.

Drew Valentine, Loyola Chicago: Just 33 years young, Valentine has already won a title as a head coach in both the Missouri Valley and the Atlantic 10. Smooth, confident, and mature beyond his years, this guy showed his coaching ability last season when he led the Ramblers to a share of the Atlantic 10 regular season title after a disappointing 15th place finish when Loyola Chicago first joined the league in 2022-23. The brother of former Michigan State star Denzel Valentine, Drew Valentine is on track to be a major force in college basketball for the next few decades.

Alan Huss, High Point: Huss didn’t get High Point to the NCAA Tournament last season, but 27 wins and a regular season title in your first season as a head coach is simply a ridiculous accomplishment. A disciple of Greg McDermott at Creighton, Huss knows what he’s good at and is good at what he knows. High Point averaged 84.2 points last season in its first year under Huss’ leadership.

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