2026 Coaching Carousel

[The Sultan]

How poor is Xavier?

https://www.wvxu.org/education/2025-09-25/xavier-enrollment-slide

"This semester, the university posted its lowest total enrollment in years. Recently released data shows that 673 freshmen enrolled at Xavier this fall, leaving the school with a total enrollment of less than 5,000 students in all of its undergraduate and graduate programs.

In 2011, the university's total enrollment was 6,945. Since then, enrollment has dropped by nearly 2,000 students."

And, while this is a couple years old, it still holds...

https://x.com/hoyatalk/status/1635754047025164291

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

https://x.com/TheFieldOf68/status/2026345105922089259?s=20

But would Providence highly consider Little Richard?  Fire a coach that's currently 5-11 in the Big East and replace him with another coach who is 5-11 in the BE. Genius!

[Billy Hoyle]

How poor is Xavier?

https://www.wvxu.org/education/2025-09-25/xavier-enrollment-slide

"This semester, the university posted its lowest total enrollment in years. Recently released data shows that 673 freshmen enrolled at Xavier this fall, leaving the school with a total enrollment of less than 5,000 students in all of its undergraduate and graduate programs.

In 2011, the university's total enrollment was 6,945. Since then, enrollment has dropped by nearly 2,000 students."

And, while this is a couple years old, it still holds...

X deliberately reduced enrollment as their retention rates were poor (under 80%). They shifted towards recruiting students who were more likely to return as sophomores, particularly those who could afford it financially. The rate was around 87% last year. There are financial issues at X, but the enrollment decline isn't as alarming as the article makes it seem.

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.xavier.edu/announcements/documents/preslettertocampusfinal-23-may-2025.pdf

We're also seeing schools across the country, public and private, making cuts to the general institution (DePaul is one, we've made cuts too), but the athletic programs remain unscathed.

[The Sultan]

X deliberately reduced enrollment as their retention rates were poor (under 80%). They shifted towards recruiting students who were more likely to return as sophomores, particularly those who could afford it financially. The rate was around 87% last year. There are financial issues at X, but the enrollment decline isn't as alarming as the article makes it seem.

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.xavier.edu/announcements/documents/preslettertocampusfinal-23-may-2025.pdf

We're also seeing schools across the country, public and private, making cuts to the general institution (DePaul is one, we've made cuts too), but the athletic programs remain unscathed.

They are down 2,000 students. Increasing freshman to sophomore retention by 10% wouldn't even make up for a quarter of that figure.

But also, the article mentions a $16 million budget deficit. And the fact that they want to grow enrollment by adding a bunch of new majors.

It's a very poor school by Big East standards.

[wadesworld]

Isn't Xavier opening a med school soon?

[The Sultan]

Isn't Xavier opening a med school soon?

A College of Osteopathic Medicine...yes.

[panda]

A College of Osteopathic Medicine...yes.

aka a medical school

[The Sultan]

aka a medical school

Right. Which is why I said "yes."

[panda]

Right. Which is why I said "yes."

lol - you said other things too

[The Sultan]

lol - you said other things too

Yes. I was providing more detail. I wasn't meaning anything else by it.

[panda]

Yes. I was providing more detail. I wasn't meaning anything else by it.

🤝🤝

[JWags85]

But would Providence highly consider Little Richard?  Fire a coach that's currently 5-11 in the Big East and replace him with another coach who is 5-11 in the BE. Genius!

Not that I'm the biggest Richard Pitino fan, but you're firing a coach who was a very speculative hire with no real track record of success (34-29/18-16 in 2 years at George Mason which was basically what the program had been doing under Paulsen before him) to hire a coach who has taken 2 different teams to the NCAA and won a game there, won an NIT, and is an alumni.  He has started slow at X, but Pitino's resume stomps all over English's

[Its DJOver]

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/48016298/mens-college-basketball-2026-coaching-carousel-hot-seat-guide-candidates

Borzello article that touches on the Pitino rumors and why it's unlikely. TLDR; not enough $ to fire English and bring in Pitino.

Also worth noting, to nobody's surprise, Shaka is not mentioned in the "jobs that could open" category, the "probably at least a year away" category, or the "candidates to keep an eye on" category.

[Billy Hoyle]

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/48016298/mens-college-basketball-2026-coaching-carousel-hot-seat-guide-candidates

Borzello article that touches on the Pitino rumors and why it's unlikely. TLDR; not enough $ to fire English and bring in Pitino.

Also worth noting, to nobody's surprise, Shaka is not mentioned in the "jobs that could open" category, the "probably at least a year away" category, or the "candidates to keep an eye on" category.

Field of 68 is just creating engagement at this point. "Sources" equals "our team."

Meanwhile, all signs point to Matta returning:

https://x.com/THEAkeemGlaspie/status/2026642109290197246

[GoldenWarrior11]

Isn't there another rumor that McDermott may leave to go to ASU (Hurley isn't signed beyond this year)?

[wadesworld]

Isn't there another rumor that McDermott may leave to go to ASU (Hurley isn't signed beyond this year)?

Maybe to live in Arizona in retirement.

[Billy Hoyle]

Maybe to live in Arizona in retirement.

agreed. That's just idle social media chatter.

However, one I could see is Randy Bennett, an AZ native, pulling a Jim Larranaga and taking the ASU job, especially with the WCC losing Gonzaga.

[The Sultan]

agreed. That's just idle social media chatter.

However, one I could see is Randy Bennett, an AZ native, pulling a Jim Larranaga and taking the ASU job, especially with the WCC losing Gonzaga.

He's older than McDermott.

[Billy Hoyle]

He's older than McDermott.

Unlike McDermott, he hasn't announced plans to retire and has never been at a high major. As I said, it could be a Laranega situation. Bennett could have a high-major job (and high-major salary) to end his career. He could, at a minimum, triple his salary at ASU.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Not that I'm the biggest Richard Pitino fan, but you're firing a coach who was a very speculative hire with no real track record of success (34-29/18-16 in 2 years at George Mason which was basically what the program had been doing under Paulsen before him) to hire a coach who has taken 2 different teams to the NCAA and won a game there, won an NIT, and is an alumni.  He has started slow at X, but Pitino's resume stomps all over English's

Don't get me wrong, Kim English very much should be fired.  I was also very skeptical of his hiring in the first place.

But Richard Pitino made only 2 NCAA tournaments in 8 years at Minnesota.  He's made a grand total of 4 NCAA tournaments in 13 (soon to be 14) years as a head coach.

Do you think that is what Providence should aspire to?

[Tarragona]

Randy Bennett:

12 NCAA Tourneys. Finished 1st or 2nd in 19 of 25 years.

He's coached in the WCC 36 out of the past 40 years. He hasn't lived in AZ in 44 years. In those 44 years, ASU has made the NCAA Tourney 8 times.

Bennett makes just under $2 million. Hurley makes $3.6 million total comp, 11 years into the job.

Bennett's contract is up next year. I expect to see another Bennett extension at St. Mary's, with raise and roster $ budget bump. I don't see him going to ASU or elsewhere. He has a good situation.

[Jay Bee]

Bennett makes just under $2 million. Hurley makes $3.6 million total comp, 11 years into the job.

#FakeNews #Lies

[wadesworld]

I could see Schirtz going to ASU.

(Just want to see a head explode in here.)

[panda]

I could see Schirtz going to ASU.

(Just want to see a head explode in here.)

I actually think he would be a great fit there. ASU shows a significant amount of ambition compared to SLU. Additionally, St. Louis is just a disgusting place to live, raise a family etc. I think anyone with half a brain would jump at the opportunity to go to one of our nations most esteemed universities in Arizona State.

[Tarragona]

I don't believe Shaka Smart will leave MU for Arizona State. I also don't believe Greg McDermott will leave Creighton to coach ASU.