Today marks the end of April and a time to reflect on the past season. At CBS Sports, we take a closer look at which coaching hires made an immediate impact in their first year. While we don’t grade them in this post, we wait four years before evaluating their performance. This year’s evaluation will be released later this week.
In 2023, over 60 coaching hires were made, and 16 coaches stood out for their immediate success at their new schools. One such coach was Grant McCasland, who quickly rebuilt Texas Tech and brought pride back to the program after a difficult season. Despite close calls, two high-major coaches who didn’t make it to the NCAA Tournament still had solid seasons and impressive ratings.
Recognition for exceptional first-year performances is not limited to just high-major coaches. Small-school coaches also received recognition for their outstanding debut seasons. Four of these coaches made it to the NCAA Tournament in their first year, with two already moving on to new opportunities. In total, nearly 50 mid-major coaching changes occurred in 2023, with eleven first-year hires making a significant impact on their programs.
A successful first year can certainly help with recruiting through the transfer portal, but it doesn’t guarantee success in future years. Nonetheless, recognizing these coaches and their achievements helps provide insight into which ones are building strong foundations for long-term success.
Overall, this past season saw many promising first-year coaching hires who excelled right away despite facing challenges and obstacles along the way. As we move forward into the next season, it will be interesting to see how these coaches continue to develop and grow within their programs.
