Syracuse University has a new chancellor, the next SU athletics director is expected to be announced soon, and it's likely that the Orange brass will be searching for a new head coach of Syracuse basketball after the 2025-26 season culminates.
Head coach Adrian Autry, in his third campaign guiding his alma mater, is trying to finish the 2025-26 term with a winning record as the 'Cuse (15-15 overall, 6-11 in ACC) will host Pittsburgh on senior day this Saturday afternoon before SU heads to the ACC Tournament next week in Charlotte, N.C.
I've already discussed some potential candidates who won't, or shouldn't, be in the running for the Syracuse basketball head coaching gig. Now, let's take a look at some guys whom Orange leaders should strongly consider for the top spot leading 'Cuse hoops.
Ten candidates to be the next Syracuse basketball head coach (in alphabetical order).
Casey Alexander
Alexander is doing a stellar job as the head coach of Belmont out of the Missouri Valley Conference. The Bruins (26-5 overall) won the league's regular-season title, and, as a team, they average 84.0 points per game while hitting on 40.5 percent from beyond the arc.
Mark Byington
Byington is the head coach at Vanderbilt, which isn't historically a basketball power. This season, though, the Commodores are ranked No. 24 in the Associated Press top 25 and 23-7 overall in the rugged Southeastern Conference.
Jerrod Calhoun
Calhoun's Utah State (24-6 overall) currently leads the Mountain West Conference, and he'll be a hot commodity in this offseason's head coaching carousel. In his two terms leading the Aggies, Calhoun is 50-13 overall.
Bryan Hodgson
The rumor mill is swirling that Hodgson, who is originally from New York state and previously served as an assistant coach at Buffalo, could be a leading candidate for the Orange gig should it open up. In his first season as South Florida's head coach, the Bulls (21-8 overall) have clinched a share of the American Conference regular-season title.
James Jones
Jones was born on Long Island in New York and played at Albany. In his long tenure as Yale's head coach, Jones has won more than 400 games and taken the Bulldogs to multiple NCAA Tournaments. Yale (22-5 overall) leads the Ivy League so far this season.
Chris Mack
Mack was highly successful as Xavier's head coach but less so as the boss at Louisville. Now the head coach at Coastal Athletic Association school College of Charleston, the Cougars are 21-10 this term after going 24–9 in Mack's first campaign at the helm.
T.J. Otzelberger
Otzelberger is now in his fifth season as Iowa State's head coach, and he's faring quite well. The Big 12 Conference member is 24-6 overall and No. 6 in the AP top 25. The Cyclones are eyeing a No. 2 seed or a No. 3 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Who knows if Otzelberger would consider leaving Iowa State, but SU officials should give him a call regardless.
Josh Schertz
Schertz is expected to be one of the most sought-after head coaches this offseason. He went 66–40 at Indiana State and is now in his second campaign as the head coach of Saint Louis in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The Billikens are 27-3 overall and No. 25 in the AP top 25.
Tony Skinn
He is a rising star in the coaching profession. Skinn was a starter on George Mason's 2006 Final Four team and is now the Patriots' head coach. George Mason, out of the Atlantic 10 Conference, is 22-8 overall this season. Before becoming the boss of the Patriots, Skinn was an assistant coach at Seton Hall, Ohio State and Maryland. He was also previously an assistant coach of the Washington, D.C.-based Team Takeover in Nike's EYBL league. Skinn's recruiting ties in the DMV would be attractive as a potential Syracuse basketball head coaching candidate.
Travis Steele
Steele's Miami (Ohio) squad is a beautiful feel-good story of the 2025-26 campaign. The RedHawks have their regular-season finale on Friday night at Ohio. Should Mid-American Conference member Miami (Ohio) prevail, it will finish the regular season at a perfect 31-0. Steele went 70–50 overall in four terms as Xavier's head coach, and now he's 82–46 overall in his fourth season leading the RedHawks, a group that is No. 19 in the latest AP top 25.