With a fresh college basketball season looming, we’ll soon learn which teams will inevitably underperform their expectations. Some coaches will be at more risk than others when facing an underwhelming season. Let’s discuss five college coaches on the hot seat for the 2024-25 college basketball season.
Mike Woodson, Indiana
Woodson’s Hoosiers disappointed in 2023-24, failing to make the tournament after a second-round loss in 2023. Many felt Indiana underdelivered given its talent, including eventual top-20 pick Kel’el Ware.
After five-star wing Liam McNeeley flipped to UConn, the Hoosiers worked to rebuild their roster through the portal. Expectations will be high in Bloomington given Woodson’s transfer portal additions. Myles Rice, Oumar Ballo and Kanaan Carlyle should all be impact contributors based on their talent.
If the Hoosiers once again underwhelm in a new look Big 10, we could see Indiana look elsewhere at head coach.
Porter Moser, Oklahoma
By most metrics, Porter Moser’s tenure in Norman hasn’t been successful. The Sooners haven’t made the NCAA tournament under Moser after seven appearances in Lon Kruger’s 10 years. Oklahoma hasn’t even cracked .500 in Big 12 play over his three years.
They’ll look to rebound in their first season in the SEC. Oklahoma’s roster will feature five incoming transfers to replace the five outgoing transfers lost to the portal last season.
Projections view the Sooners as a bottom-tier SEC team for the upcoming year. Moser might find his head on the chopping block if the Sooners can’t beat expectations and carve out wins.
Kyle Neptune, Villanova
Following legendary coach Jay Wright would be no easy feat for any coach. It’s fair to say, though, that Neptune hasn’t delivered results in his two seasons. Villanova missed the tournament for the first time since 2012 under Neptune.
Neptune’s coaching isn’t fully to blame here, though. The Wildcats roster talent hasn’t been nearly the same over the last two seasons. It’s fair to wonder how Neptune would fair with a much more talented roster.
Rumors of Neptune pouring cold water on Cam Whitmore before his draft certainly won’t entice recruits. If Villanova has another disappointing finish in the Big East this year, we could see a new direction at head coach with Neptune on the hot seat.
Dennis Gates, Missouri
After leading Missouri to a surprise tournament appearance in year one, Gates’s Tigers dropped the ball in year two. They finished a ghastly 0-18 in SEC play last season. That in itself would be reason enough to fire a coach in many cases, but Gates survived the chopping block.
It’s an understandable decision given the state of Missouri’s roster. The 2023 team lost two of its key players to the NBA and plenty more to graduation. And in 2024, Missouri’s roster of young pieces and transfers couldn’t answer the bell.
Gates brought in a bevy of transfers and his strongest recruiting class yet. Despite a strong SEC, the Tigers must improve substantially in conference play. If that can’t happen, Gates could find his job in peril despite the positive start to his Missouri career.
Wes Miller, Cincinnati
Miller took over a disastrous regime led by John Brannen as the Bearcats transitioned to the Big 12. Miller’s group finished 7-11 in the Big 12 in the Bearcats’s inaugural season in the conference. Despite some progress, Cincinnati hasn’t made the tournament since Mick Cronin was the coach in 2019.
The Bearcats expect leaps from a few key young players, including Jizzle James and Dan Skillings. Those two, as well as Texas transfer Dillon Mitchell, should make the Bearcats talented enough to make a tournament run. Some projections view them as a top 30 team in the country.
If Cincinnati can’t forge a successful Big 12 season for the first time, Miller’s seat might begin to heat up.
