Breaking Up is Hard to Do: Active NCAA DI Coaches Leaving Alma Maters
We don't know if the song "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" was the background music when Mike Krzyzewski chose to leave his alma mater (Army) four decades ago for Duke in the early 1980s. Coach K departed after five campaigns with the Cadets. Seven years ago, Mick Cronin left following 13 seasons at Cincinnati - the same tenure recently-retired Keith Dambrot had at Akron before abandoning ship for Duquesne. Pat Conroy (The Citadel) returned to his alma mater he previously shunned. Following is an alphabetical list of active mentors who voluntarily left their Division I alma maters after Casey Alexander departed Belmont for Kansas State:
| Active Coach | Alma Mater (Coaching Years) | Subsequent Job (Years) |
|---|---|---|
| Casey Alexander | Belmont '95 (2019-20 through 2025-26) | Kansas State (since 2026-27) |
| Mick Cronin | Cincinnati '96 (2006-07 through 2018-19) | UCLA (since 2019-20) |
| Bryce Drew | Valparaiso '98 (2011-12 through 2015-16) | Vanderbilt (2016-17 through 2018-19) |
| Joe Golding | Abilene Christian '98 (2011-12 through 2020-21) | Texas-El Paso (since 2021-22) |
| Fred Hoiberg | Iowa State '95 (2010-11 through 2014-15) | NBA's Chicago Bulls (2015-16 to 2018-19) |
| Darrin Horn | Western Kentucky '95 (2003-04 through 2007-08) | South Carolina (2008-09 through 2011-12) |
| Nick McDevitt | UNC Asheville '01 (2013-14 through 2017-18) | Middle Tennessee State (since 2018-19) |
| Danny Sprinkle | Montana State '99 (2019-20 through 2022-23) | Utah State (since 2023-24) |
NOTE: Drew (Grand Canyon), Hoiberg (Nebraska), Horn (Northern Kentucky) and Sprinkle (Washington) currently coach other colleges.