Dribble Handoff: Principal Challenges Facing New Head Coaches in 2021-22

November 21st, 2021 - 8:18

Whether it's keeping the polish gleaming on a pristine program or reversing the fortunes of a struggling school, new head coaches are seeking ways to surmount a series of seemingly incessant hurdles. Here is an alphabetical list by school summarizing the principal challenges facing new Division I head coaches this season:

School New Head Coach Goal As 2021-22 Season Unfolds
Abilene Christian Brette Tanner Reach 20-win plateau fourth consecutive campaign.
Albany Dwayne Killings Compile winning record for first time in four seasons.
Arizona Tommy Lloyd Avoid incurring double digits in defeats for eighth time in last 10 years.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff Solomon Bozeman End streak of eight straight losing records.
Austin Peay Nate James Post at least 19 victories for fourth time in last five seasons.
Bethune-Cookman Reggie Theus Win at least 14 games for fourth year in a row.
Binghamton Levell Sanders (interim) End streak of 12 consecutive losing campaigns.
Boston College Earl Grant Notch second winning mark in last 12 seasons.
Cal State Northridge Trent Johnson (interim) End streak of 12 straight losing records.
Cal State Sacramento Brandon Laird (interim) Assemble second winning mark in last seven years.
Central Connecticut State Patrick Sellers Secure first winning record in 11 seasons.
Central Michigan Tony Barbee Manufacture winning record for first time in three campaigns.
Chicago State Gerald Gillion Reach double figures in victories for first time in eight years.
Cincinnati Wes Miller Compile 13th consecutive winning campaign.
College of Charleston Pat Kelsey Return to average of 25 wins annually during three-year span from 2016-17 through 2018-19.
Delaware State Stan Waterman Amass first winning record in 10 seasons.
Denver Jeff Wulbrun Post first winning record in five years.
DePaul Tony Stubblefield Boost school to first winning mark in Big East Conference competition since 2006-07.
East Tennessee State Desmond Oliver Secure winning records overall and in Southern Conference competition for sixth straight season.
Eastern Illinois Marty Simmons Incur fewer than 15 defeats for first time since 2009-10.
Eastern Michigan Stan Heath Absorb fewer than 12 setbacks for first time in 21st Century.
Eastern Washington David Riley Notch at least 15 victories for eighth consecutive campaign.
Fordham Kyle Neptune Register first winning record in Atlantic 10 Conference competition since 2006-07.
George Mason Kim English Engineer fourth winning worksheet in a row.
Hofstra Speedy Claxton Finish with fifth straight CAA winning record.
Indiana Mike Woodson Incur fewer than a dozen reversals for first time since 2015-16.
IUPUI Matt Crenshaw Post first winning record in 11 years.
Indiana State Josh Schertz Assemble third straight MVC record at least four games above .500.
Iowa State T.J. Otzelberger Refrain from losing at least 20 games like last two seasons.
Jacksonville Jordan Mincy Register second winning record in last 11 years.
Lamar Alvin Brooks Lose fewer than 13 games for first time since 2011-12.
Loyola of Chicago Drew Valentine Finish at least six games above .500 in MVC competiton for fifth consecutive campaign.
Marquette Shaka Smart Lose fewer than 10 games for first time since 2012-13.
UMBC Jim Ferry Manufacture at least 14 victories for sixth straight season.
McNeese State John Aiken Secure first winning season in 10 years.
Minnesota Ben Johnson Lose fewer than 14 contests for first time in five seasons.
New Mexico Richard Pitino Incur fewer than 14 defeats for first time in eight campaigns.
North Carolina Hubert Davis Win NCAA playoff game for first time in three years.
UNC Greensboro Mike Jones Post more than 20 victories for sixth straight season.
Northern Illinois Rashon Burno Sustain fewer than 13 setbacks for first time since 2005-06.
Oklahoma Porter Moser Lose fewer than 11 games for first time in six seasons.
Pacific Leonard Perry Post second winning record in last seven years.
Penn State Micah Shrewsberry Provide second winning record in Big Ten Conference competition in last 12 campaigns.
Portland Shantay Legans Produce first winning mark in WCC competition in 12 seasons.
Portland State Jase Coburn Incur fewer than 13 reversals for first time since 2008-09.
Radford Darris Nichols Finish at least six games above .500 in Big South Conference competition for fifth consecutive campaign.
San Jose State Tim Miles Secure second winning record since 1993-94.
Seattle Chris Victor (interim) Finish more than three games above .500 for second time since returning to NCAA DI level in 2009-10.
South Carolina State Tony Madlock Compile second winning record in last 12 years.
UT Martin Ryan Ridder End streak of four straight seasons at least seven games below .500.
Texas Chris Beard Win an NCAA Tournament game for first time since 2015.
Texas-Arlington Greg Young Lose fewer than 13 games for first time in five years.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christ Steve Lutz Lose fewer than 18 contests for first time in five seasons.
Texas-El Paso Joe Golding Finish at least three games above .500 for first time in six campaigns.
UT Rio Grande Valley Matt Figger Register winning record for second time in last 14 years.
Texas Tech Mark Adams Win at least 18 games for seventh straight season.
UNLV Kevin Kruger Reach 20-win plateau for second time in last eight campaigns.
Utah Craig Smith Attain at least 20 triumphs for first time in four years.
Utah State Ryan Odom Accumulate at least 20 victories for fourth consecutive campaign.
Western Carolina Justin Gray Reach 20-win plateau for first time in 12 seasons.
Winthrop Mark Prosser Win at least 18 games for ninth year in a row.