Breaking Up is Hard to Do: Active DI Mentors Departing Their Alma Maters
We don't know if the song "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" was the background music when recently-retired 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. Four years ago, Mick Cronin left following 13 seasons at Cincinnati - the same tenure Keith Dambrot had at Akron before abandoning ship for Duquesne. Pat Conroy (The Citadel) and Thad Matta (Butler) have returned to their alma maters they previously shunned. Following is an alphabetical list of active mentors who voluntarily left their Division I alma maters after Danny Sprinkle departed Montana State for Utah State:
| Active Coach | Alma Mater (Coaching Years) | Subsequent Job (Years) |
|---|---|---|
| Mick Cronin | Cincinnati '96 (2006-07 through 2018-19) | UCLA (since 2019-20) |
| Keith Dambrot | Akron '82 (2004-05 through 2016-17) | Duquesne (since 2017-18) |
| Ed DeChellis | Penn State '82 (2003-04 through 2010-11) | Navy (since 2011-12) |
| 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) |
| Greg McDermott | Northern Iowa '88 (2001-02 through 2005-06) | Iowa State (2006-07 through 2009-10) |
| Nick McDevitt | UNC Asheville '01 (2013-14 through 2017-18) | Middle Tennessee State (since 2018-19) |
| Danny Sprinkle | Montana State (2019-20 through 2022-23 | Utah State (since 2023-24) |
| Wayne Tinkle | Montana '89 (2006-07 through 2013-14) | Oregon State (since 2014-15) |
NOTE: Drew (Grand Canyon), Hoiberg (Nebraska), Horn (Northern Kentucky) and McDermott (Creighton) currently coach other colleges.