As we take last look at the college basketball season, and look ahead to the college basketball there will be a ton of a player movement with the transfer market. That’s just part of the game now, and coaches have to deal with it. So heading into this off-season and looking ahead to the 2021-2022 season, how are the hot-seat rankings for the ACC basketball coaches?
We go from coldest to hottest.
0 – Ice Cold Seat
1 – Still cool
2 – There’s smoke
3 – Getting Warm
4 – On Fire
5 – Start working on the resume
Mike Krzyzewski, Duke = 0
Duke missed the NCAA tournament, and the Blue Devils had their worst season since 1995. Coach K is untouchable, but a repeat of this year and don’t be surprised if a few whispers that his best days are behind him don’t show up.
Tony Bennett, Virginia = 0
Virginia is now the premier program in the ACC. In a down year, they still won the ACC regular season title. They are dealing with some transfers, but who isn’t.
Hubert Davis, UNC = 0
When you are newly hired without a single game under your belt there is no hotseat for you. Davis is replacing a legend in Roy Williams – no pressure.
Leonard Hamilton, FSU = 0
Florida State is now a Sweet 16 fixture thanks to Hamilton. Calls for Hamilton to be fired are ancient history, and if Virginia is the ACC’s premier program then Florida State is second with an argument it could be number one. Virginia’s national title is too recent to me for that, but you get the idea of the great work Hamilton has done.
Mike Young, Virginia Tech = 0
Mike Young exceeded expectations this past year getting the Hokies to the NCAA tournament and winning the ACC COY. Young has managed low-expectations perfectly, but Virginia Tech won’t come in below the radar this year.
Earl Grant, Boston College = 0
If Earl Grant just makes BC competitive, he will be an improvement over Jim Christian. Like Hubert Davis new coaches are safe going into the season.
Steve Forbes, Wake Forest = 0
Steve Forbes inherited a mess at Wake Forest. They had some competitive moments this past year, but only won 6 games. That was fine this year, but improvement is expected.
Jim Boeheim, Syracuse = 0
Jim Boeheim got Syracuse back to the Sweet 16, and his team going into next year could be his best in awhile. Recruiting is going well too. Simmering frustration with Boeheim seems to have died down.
Josh Pastner, Georgia Tech – 1
Josh Pastner got Georgia Tech back to the NCAA tournament, and won the ACC Tournament. This is the coolest his seat has been since his first season at Georgia Tech, but we can’t forget in mid-February Georgia Tech was in trouble before their late surge. Things can turn on Pastner quick, if Georgia Tech can’t build on this season.
Chris Mack, Louisville = 1
Chris Mack seemed like a can’t miss hire. Long-term I still think he get’s it done at Louisville, but he missed the NCAA tournament this year. If Louisville doesn’t go to the NCAA Tournament next year this number might triple.
Brad Brownell, Clemson – 2.5
Brownell is a very polarizing coach. Many Clemson fans will look at making the NCAA tournament 2 of their last 4 years with one of those misses the COVID 2019 season as doing about as well as Clemson can do. A lot of other Clemson fans think the program should and can aim higher. In either case Brownell needs a solid 2021-2022 season.
Kevin Keatts, NC State = 2.5
Kevin Keatts enters a critical 5th year at NC State. 4 years at NC State and he doesn’t have a NCAA tournament win and just had his worst ACC finish of his tenure. He hasn’t been bad enough that NC State fans are ready to run him out of Raleigh, but things can go either direction real fast for Keatts.
Jeff Capel, Pittsburgh = 3
It’s getting a little dicey for Capel at Pittsburgh. Sure Kevin Stallings left a disaster, but after three seasons and you haven’t finished higher than 12th in the ACC? Hmm Capel is in a bit of trouble. I don’t know if he makes it past year 4 if Pitt doesn’t make some major strides.
Jim Larranaga, Miami = 3
Jim Larranaga can flat out coach. He’s won an ACC title at Miami, and been to couple of Sweet 16s. This past year Miami was been beset by a ton of injuries, and that was part of the rough year, but the reality is Larranaga has only won 16 ACC games the last 3 years. He really needs to show some progress this upcoming year.
Mike Brey, Notre Dame = 3.5
Mike Brey has been so successful at Notre Dame for some 20 years, but the program in South Bend has really gotten stale. He’s been .500 or worse in the ACC for 4 straight years, and Notre Dame fans were calling for his firing before a late win over FSU. I don’t think he survives a mediocre 2021-2022 season.
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