Jared Grasso, Bryant: Grasso has single handedly transformed Bryant into one of the most exciting mid-major programs in the country just years after the Bulldogs won three games in the season prior to his arrival. Bryant was fourth nationally a year ago in adjusted tempo according to KenPom.com and reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. Now a member of the America East after several seasons in the NEC, the Bulldogs are again in position to again be a national story thanks to an elite transfer class, headlined by former Top-50 recruit Earl Timberlake.
Dana Ford, Missouri State: Just 38 years young, Ford is already entering his ninth season as a Division 1 head coach. He’s quietly posted a 40-18 record over the past two seasons with an impressive 25-11 mark in Missouri Valley Conference play. If Ford ever broke through and reached the NCAA Tournament, he’d quickly be on the short list for openings at the power conference level.
Jeff Boals, Ohio: Boals led the Bobcats to an NCAA Tournament win over Virginia two years ago and then lost Jason Preston to the NBA. He responded with a 25-win season. While Boals lost his two best players — Mark Sears (Alabama) and Ben Vander Plas (Virginia) — to the transfer portal following last year, he’s too good of a coach to not keep Ohio right in the thick of things in the MAC.
Jonas Hayes, Georgia State: Hayes hasn’t coached a game yet at Georgia State, but showed major promise last spring when he led Xavier to a Postseason NIT title as the team’s interim head coach. A former player at Georgia, Hayes is likeable, genuine, and extremely capable as both a coach and recruiter. This a potential star to monitor in the college coaching industry.
Chris Capko was promoted to Associate Head Coach for the USC men’s basketball program by head coach Andy Enfield on Aug. 30, 2021, after serving as an assistant coach since April 22, 2016.