20 Assistant Coaches Poised for Division I Head Coaching Jobs

Rivals' Jamie Shaw discusses 20 men's Division 1 assistant coaches who could become head college basketball coaches.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

As the 2025-26 college basketball season winds down, several head coaching opportunities are expected to open up at the Division I level. Rivals' Jamie Shaw has identified 20 assistant coaches who are poised to take on their own Division I head coaching jobs in the near future.

Why it matters

The college basketball coaching carousel is an annual event that sees numerous head coaching changes across the sport. These assistant coaches represent the next generation of leaders who could shape the future of college basketball programs around the country.

The details

The list of 20 assistant coaches includes up-and-coming talents from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Many have paid their dues as assistants at both mid-major and high-major programs, while others have even had head coaching experience at the Division II level. Several of them have strong ties to current successful head coaches, having served as key members of their staffs.

  • The college basketball season is nearing its conclusion in March 2026.
  • Head coaching openings are expected to start emerging in the coming weeks and months.

The players

JR Blount

A 39-year-old assistant coach at Iowa State who previously worked at Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Saint Leo, Drake, and Colorado State.

Mike Boynton

A 44-year-old assistant coach at Michigan who was previously the head coach at Oklahoma State from 2017-2024.

Adam Cohen

A Buffalo, New York native who is the Associate Head Coach at Texas after previous assistant roles at Harvard, Vanderbilt, and Stanford.

Jon Cremins

The Associate Head Coach at Vanderbilt who has prior assistant coaching experience at Georgia Southern, James Madison, and Kennesaw State.

Emanuel Dildy

A 44-year-old assistant coach at Duke who has worked at Eastern Illinois, Loyola-Chicago, Missouri, Valparaiso, Northwestern, and Oklahoma.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“These searches typically go pretty quickly once the college basketball season ends, with back-channel conversations already taking place to help narrow lists.”

— Jamie Shaw, Rivals Writer (on3.com)

What’s next

As head coaching openings continue to emerge in the coming weeks, these 20 assistant coaches will likely be among the top candidates considered to fill those roles.

The takeaway

The college basketball coaching carousel is an annual event that provides opportunities for up-and-coming assistant coaches to take the next step in their careers. This list highlights 20 talented individuals who have paid their dues and are poised to become Division I head coaches in the near future.