Making First Impression: Short-Term Objectives For DI New Head Coaches
October 19th, 2019 - 21:11
Whether it's rebuilding a struggling program or maintaining tradition of success, you can only make one first impression. Early reviews will generate even more impact for 23 college head-coaching newcomers including former NBA veterans Juwan Howard (Michigan), Lindsey Hunter (Mississippi Valley State), Mark Madsen (Utah Valley), Aaron McKie (Temple) and Jerry Stackhouse (Vanderbilt). Following is an alphabetical list by school citing realistic first-year objectives regarding the 60 new head coaches entering the 2019-20 season:
| DI School | New Head Coach | First-Year Goal For School Heading Into 2019-20 Season |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Nate Oats | Fewer than 15 defeats first time in seven seasons. |
| Appalachian State | Dustin Kerns | First winning record in nine seasons. |
| Arkansas | Eric Musselman | First NCAA tourney Sweet 16 since 1996. |
| Belmont | Casey Alexander | Reach 20-win plateau for 10th consecutive campaign. |
| Brigham Young | Mark Pope | Reach Sweet 16 second time since 1981. |
| Buffalo | Jim Whitesell | Avoid second losing record since 2007-08. |
| California | Mark Fox | Reach double figures in victories after back-to-back seasons with only eight triumphs. |
| Cal Poly | John Smith | End streak of six straight losing records. |
| Cincinnati | John Brannen | Compile more than 20 wins 10th consecutive campaign. |
| Cleveland State | Dennis Gates* | Secure more than 12 victories first time in five seasons. |
| Elon | Mike Schrage* | Reach 20-win plateau second time in 21st Century. |
| Fairfield | Jay Young | Sustain fewer than 14 defeats first time since 2010-11. |
| George Washington | Jamion Christian | Fewer than 15 defeats first time in four years. |
| Georgia State | Rob Lanier | Reach 20-win plateau sixth time in seven seasons. |
| Holy Cross | Brett Nelson* | Fewer than 14 setbacks first time since 2006-07. |
| Howard University | Kenny Blakeney* | First winning record since 2001-02. |
| Idaho | Zac Claus (interim)* | Second season with fewer than 13 defeats in 21st Century. |
| Idaho State | Ryan Looney | Second season with fewer than 13 setbacks since 1994-95. |
| IUPUI | Byron Rimm II (interim) | End streak of eight consecutive losing records. |
| Kennesaw State | Amir Abdur-Rahim* | First non-losing overall record since joining Atlantic Sun Conference in 2005-06. |
| Lipscomb | Lennie Acuff | Reach 20-win plateau fourth straight season. |
| Maryland-Eastern Shore | Jason Crafton | Manage second winning record since 1993-94. |
| Mercer | Greg Gary | Sustain fewer than 15 defeats first time in six seasons. |
| Michigan | Juwan Howard* | Post more than 25 victories fourth consecutive campaign. |
| Mississippi Valley State | Lindsey Hunter* | Reach double digits in wins first time since 2011-12. |
| Montana State | Danny Sprinkle* | First winning record since 2009-10. |
| Morgan State | Kevin Broadus | First winning record since 2012-13. |
| Nebraska | Fred Hoiberg | Notch first NCAA Tournament victory in school history. |
| Nevada | Steve Alford | Post at least 24 triumphs fifth consecutive campaign. |
| Niagara | Greg Paulus* | Reach 20-win plateau first time since 2008-09. |
| North Dakota | Paul Sather | Compile more than 12 victories first time in three seasons. |
| Northern Arizona | Shane Burcar (interim)* | Win more than 10 games first time since 2014-15. |
| Northern Kentucky | Darrin Horn | Collect at least 22 wins fourth straight season. |
| Ohio University | Jeff Boals | Register at least 15 victories after back-to-back 14-17 records. |
| Presbyterian | Quinton Ferrell* | Remain at 20-win plateau after posting first winning mark at DI level last year. |
| St. John's | Mike Anderson | Win an NCAA tourney game first time since 2000. |
| St. Joseph's | Billy Lange | Compile winning record first time in four seasons. |
| San Francisco | Todd Golden* | Reach 20-win plateau fourth successive season. |
| Siena | Carmen Maciariello* | Sustain fewer than 16 defeats first time in four years. |
| South Dakota State | Eric Henderson* | Secure 10th winning overall record in a row. |
| Southeastern Louisiana | David Kiefer* | Fourth consecutive non-losing campaign. |
| Southern Illinois | Bryan Mullins* | Second season with fewer than 13 reversals since 2006-07. |
| SIU Edwardsville | Brian Barone* | End streak of four straight seasons with more than 20 losses. |
| Southern Mississippi | Jay Ladner | Reach 20-win plateau like last season after averaging 20 defeats annually previous four years. |
| Stetson | Donnie Jones | End streak of six straight 20-loss seasons. |
| Stony Brook | Geno Ford | Notch seventh season with more than 20 wins in last nine years. |
| Temple | Aaron McKie* | Sixth straight non-losing record. |
| Tennessee Tech | John Pelphrey | First season with single digit in defeats since 2001-02. |
| Texas A&M | Buzz Williams | Avoid back-to-back losing seasons for first time since 2000-01 and 2001-02. |
| Troy | Scott Cross | End streak of nine straight seasons with at least 15 defeats. |
| Tulane | Ron Hunter | End streak of six straight non-winning records. |
| UCLA | Mick Cronin | Avoid 14 or more defeats sixth time in last 11 campaigns. |
| UMKC | Billy Donlon | Avoid 17 or more setbacks 13th time in last 14 seasons. |
| UNLV | T.J. Otzelberger | Register first NCAA tourney victory since 2008. |
| Utah Valley | Mark Madsen* | Win more than 20 games third straight season. |
| Vanderbilt | Jerry Stackhouse* | Lose fewer than 20 contests first time in three years. |
| Virginia Tech | Mike Young | Reach 20-win plateau fifth successive season. |
| Washington State | Kyle Smith | End streak of seven consecutive campaigns with losing record. |
| William & Mary | Dane Fischer* | Lose fewer than 11 games first time since 1997-98. |
| Wofford | Jay McAuley* | Win more than 20 contests third consecutive year. |
*College head-coaching newcomers.