Under-the-radar men's CBB coaches who should be part of 2026 carousel

The 2026 college basketball coaching carousel is already spinning.

As jobs continue to open this offseason, here are five under-the-radar names to watch for a promotion in 2026-27.

Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks head coach Matt Braeuer

Taking over for a 14-17 program, Braeuer, a former assistant under Texas Tech Red Raiders coach Grant McCasland for seven seasons (five at North Texas and the final two at Texas Tech), produced immediate results at Stephen F. Austin. The former Wichita State Shockers guard (2004-08), who turns 40 in April, guided the Lumberjacks to a 28-6 record and Southland regular-season championship before eventually losing to the tourney champ McNeese State Cowboys in the conference tournament final.

William & Mary Tribe head coach Brian Earl

In the five years before leaving the Cornell Big Red to become William & Mary's head coach, the Tribe went 56-91 (.381) with one winning season. He's gone 37-27 over his first two seasons in Williamsburg, Va., including 20-12 in 2025-26. Earl, 49, brings with him an intriguing offensive identity. Over the past five seasons, his teams have operated at among the country's fastest paces. Last season, William & Mary averaged just 13.7 seconds per possession, the fastest clip in Division I. (h/t KenPom)

Utah Valley Wolverines head coach Todd Phillips

Phillips, 52, has guided Utah Valley to back-to-back WAC regular-season championships, going 29-5 in conference play since 2024-25. His teams have ranked in the top third of Division I in adjusted defensive efficiency all three seasons at Utah Valley. With 2025-26 WAC All-Defense guard Jackson Holcombe, who led the conference with 2.2 steals per game, having one more year of eligibility, Phillips should be able to replicate that success in 2026-27 wherever he coaches.

Idaho Vandals head coach Alex Pribble

With a career .455 win percentage in three seasons at Idaho, Pribble, 40, might not seem like that hot of a coaching prospect. But digging beyond the surface numbers, Pribble's job at Idaho over the past three seasons has been among the most impressive in the country. 

From the 2018-19 through 2022-23 seasons, the Vandals went 33-116, posting the fourth-worst win percentage (.221) among 364 Division I programs during that span, per Stathead. 

He led Idaho to a stunning Big Sky tournament championship earlier in March, winning as the No. 7 seed with four wins in five days before falling to Houston in its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1990. His teams have prioritized three-point shooting, with the Vandals ranking No. 19 (47.9 percent) and No. 34 (47 percent) in three-point attempt rate the past two seasons.

Furman Paladins head coach Bob Richey

Another high-volume shooting team from deep, Furman has ranked in the top 40 in DI in three-point rate every season under Richey, beginning with the 2018-19 season. The Paladins are 203-93 with Richey as head coach, and his .686 win percentage is the best in program history among coaches with more than five seasons in charge. His two NCAA Tournament appearances are also the most since Joe Williams led the team to five trips from 1971-78.

In 2023, Richey, 43, coached Furman to an upset over the No. 4 seed Virginia Cavaliers in the round of 64, the program's first tournament win since 1974. Last week, his team fell to the No. 2 seed UConn Huskies in the opening round. Afterward, two-time national champion coach Dan Hurley told reporters Richey "is going to be coaching at a big place soon."