2025 WCBB Coaches Hot Seat edition

[DefenseBB]

As we are now past the halfway point of the conference season and 65% or more of the whole season, I though it time to take a look at some of the underperforming teams/coaches and see who should be concerned.

At the beginning of the year-ESPN had identified a few programs under scrutiny, school listed with coach and contract expiration:
Boston College-Joanna Bernabei-McNamee (2026?) She's 4-8 and 13-12 overall but this is year 7 and she's only made one post season WNIT 3 years ago, add in the number of transfers out of the program and this could be it for her
Missouri-Robin Pingeton (2025) Actually Mizzou has been better this year according to NET but her 1-9 Conference record is abysmal and she has not done well since Sophie Cunningham graduated. She got a reprieve last year with the AD leaving in Feb but now with her contract expiring....see ya!
Texas Tech-Krista Gurlich (2025?) She took over a tough situation but had not done anything with the opportunity at her alma mater, she's 3-9 in 13th place in conference and is in her last year (I suspect) of her contract. Expectations are higher here.
Houston-Ronald Hughey 2025) I can't believe it's been 10 years already and he's 140-188 career at Houston. He's clearly the worst team in the Big 12 and shows no signs of improvement. Add in his contract expiring and the Houston job will be open in March.
Northwestern-Joe McKeown (2025?) Joe is 68 and to be 69 in May. He's had a great career but he's 0-10 thus far and he needs to retire.

I would agree all 5 are still on the hot seat and would add a few more whose underperformance needs evaluation:
SMU-Toyelle Wilson (2026) SMU joined the ACC this year and is struggling and Toyelle is in year 4 and not really showing improvement. I think she will get one more year to show improvement and with the contract due to expire.
Wake Forest-Megan Gebbia (2027?) Meg took over from Jen Hoover and has been underwhelming in her 3 years going 8-39 in conference including 1-10 this year. She needs talent and she needs to improve or her time will not be long in Raleigh.
Xavier-Billie Chambers (2028) Sadly, this is just year 2 for the former Iona coach but it has been an abysmal 2 years. They are 1-29 in conference play and 7-44 overall. This is not remotely an improvement. She will get more time but it looks inevitable....
Wisconsin-Marissa Moseley (2026) Another sad story for us on the BY, the record was concerning at 19-46 conference play in year 4 but add in those allegations and I fear the end in Madison.
UCF-Sytia Messier (2027) Her 8-37 conference record tells it all. She needs talent and she needs conference wins.
ASU-Natashia Adair (2027) I admire her moxie but she seems oblivious to the shortcomings of her team with a paltry 6-41 conference record between the PAC 12 and Big 12. This is only year 3 so she will get at least one more year but again, lack of improvement has me in agreement with @azfan

Other schools I have concerns about:
Penn State-Carolyn Kieger just got the longest and highest contract extension for a women's coach at PSU within the past week. Why? Who knows as her 26-77 conference record is atrocious, she's 1-11 this year and she has seen an exodus of good players regularly.
DePaul-Doug Bruno (2026?) Doug is 74 and has had health issues this year. I hope he just retires and enjoys the legacy he built.
Purdue-Katie Gearlds (2027) Again, a fairly recent hire but her start is going well at a school that expects to compete for conferene titles. She's 22-42 in conference play, that is not going to win a title.
Rutgers-Coquese Washington (2028) I was confused when they hired her in the first place and her 3 years thus far have not changed my mind. She's 8-40 in conference play at Rutgers and she too has seen an exodus of good players.

Let me know what others people are curious about as I do have all the P4 plus BE records (and salaries) updated through today.

 

[Zanzman]

Some familiar names from last list

 

[GamecockFam]

I can only speak for the SEC since that is the only conference where I keep up with most teams. In the SEC I would probably rank the hot seats as:

1. Robin Pingeton, Missouri
2. Joni Taylor, Texas A&M
3. Mike Neighbors, Arkansas

I don't see anyone being let go outside of those three.

Edit: just wanted to add that I wasn't factoring in contract buyouts or any other x factors than recruiting and the product on the court.

 

[BigTenGuy]

As we are now past the halfway point of the conference season and 65% or more of the whole season, I though it time to take a look at some of the underperforming teams/coaches and see who should be concerned.

At the beginning of the year-ESPN had identified a few programs under scrutiny, school listed with coach and contract expiration:
Boston College-Joanna Bernabei-McNamee (2026?) She's 4-8 and 13-12 overall but this is year 7 and she's only made one post season WNIT 3 years ago, add in the number of transfers out of the program and this could be it for her
Missouri-Robin Pingeton (2025) Actually Mizzou has been better this year according to NET but her 1-9 Conference record is abysmal and she has not done well since Sophie Cunningham graduated. She got a reprieve last year with the AD leaving in Feb but now with her contract expiring....see ya!
Texas Tech-Krista Gurlich (2025?) She took over a tough situation but had not done anything with the opportunity at her alma mater, she's 3-9 in 13th place in conference and is in her last year (I suspect) of her contract. Expectations are higher here.
Houston-Ronald Hughey 2025) I can't believe it's been 10 years already and he's 140-188 career at Houston. He's clearly the worst team in the Big 12 and shows no signs of improvement. Add in his contract expiring and the Houston job will be open in March.
Northwestern-Joe McKeown (2025?) Joe is 68 and to be 69 in May. He's had a great career but he's 0-10 thus far and he needs to retire.

I would agree all 5 are still on the hot seat and would add a few more whose underperformance needs evaluation:
SMU-Toyelle Wilson (2026) SMU joined the ACC this year and is struggling and Toyelle is in year 4 and not really showing improvement. I think she will get one more year to show improvement and with the contract due to expire.
Wake Forest-Megan Gebbia (2027?) Meg took over from Jen Hoover and has been underwhelming in her 3 years going 8-39 in conference including 1-10 this year. She needs talent and she needs to improve or her time will not be long in Raleigh.
Xavier-Billie Chambers (2028) Sadly, this is just year 2 for the former Iona coach but it has been an abysmal 2 years. They are 1-29 in conference play and 7-44 overall. This is not remotely an improvement. She will get more time but it looks inevitable....
Wisconsin-Marissa Moseley (2026) Another sad story for us on the BY, the record was concerning at 19-46 conference play in year 4 but add in those allegations and I fear the end in Madison.
UCF-Sytia Messier (2027) Her 8-37 conference record tells it all. She needs talent and she needs conference wins.
ASU-Natashia Adair (2027) I admire her moxie but she seems oblivious to the shortcomings of her team with a paltry 6-41 conference record between the PAC 12 and Big 12. This is only year 3 so she will get at least one more year but again, lack of improvement has me in agreement with @azfan

Other schools I have concerns about:
Penn State-Carolyn Kieger just got the longest and highest contract extension for a women's coach at PSU within the past week. Why? Who knows as her 26-77 conference record is atrocious, she's 1-11 this year and she has seen an exodus of good players regularly.
DePaul-Doug Bruno (2026?) Doug is 74 and has had health issues this year. I hope he just retires and enjoys the legacy he built.
Purdue-Katie Gearlds (2027) Again, a fairly recent hire but her start is going well at a school that expects to compete for conferene titles. She's 22-42 in conference play, that is not going to win a title.
Rutgers-Coquese Washington (2028) I was confused when they hired her in the first place and her 3 years thus far have not changed my mind. She's 8-40 in conference play at Rutgers and she too has seen an exodus of good players.

Let me know what others people are curious about as I do have all the P4 plus BE records (and salaries) updated through today.

Do you have a link for the Kieger extension? Don’t see it on the PSU website. Makes no sense.

 

[CajunHusk94]

I can only speak for the SEC since that is the only conference where I keep up with most teams. In the SEC I would probably rank the hot seats as:

1. Robin Pingeton, Missouri
2. Joni Taylor, Texas A&M
3. Mike Neighbors, Arkansas

I don't see anyone being let go outside of those three.

Edit: just wanted to add that I wasn't factoring in contract buyouts or any other x factors than recruiting and the product on the court.

Missouri and Arkansas Coach are the first two go

Joni is not getting fired after this season but things are gonna heat up for her. They are not recruiting well right now and if they do not load up in the portal next year on paper looks worse

 

[GamecockFam]

Missouri and Arkansas Coach are the first two go

Joni is not getting fired after this season but things are gonna heat up for her. They are not recruiting well right now and if they do not load up in the portal next year on paper looks worse

I have a feeling Neighbors will be given one more season to overhaul his staff and recruits. He has built too much rapport at Arkansas to be let go. That's why I put him below Taylor -- because of that loyalty factor. But there's still a chance.

I can see Texas A&M boosters and AD cutting Joni loose if they think they can nab a better coach in the off season. Based on prior actions in football and other sports, they just seem to be more cutthroat in the pursuit of championships.

 

[JellyBean]

I laugh at y'all for thinking that Arkansas is going to let Coach Neighbors go. He is ARKANSAS! The only way my boy leaves that program is when he decides that he is done. This year it is rough for him, and he won't leave the program in that shape. He will get that program back into some decent shape before stepping down and that could be 2-3 seasons. He ain't going anywhere unless he wants to leave on his own.

Now, I do worry about my girl, Coach Marisa Moseley in Wisconsin. She could be on the hot seat. The life blood of any program is recruiting and skill development. Coach Moseley is one of best at skill development. Recruiting is always tough when you are not winning or with a program that is at or near the bottom. You take a 2 or a 3 star player and do your best at skill development. We will see what develops with Coach Moseley at Wisconsin. Wishing her all the best.

 

[cancontent]

I laugh at y'all for thinking that Arkansas is going to let Coach Neighbors go. He is ARKANSAS! The only way my boy leaves that program is when he decides that he is done. This year it is rough for him, and he won't leave the program in that shape. He will get that program back into some decent shape before stepping down and that could be 2-3 seasons. He ain't going anywhere unless he wants to leave on his own.

Now, I do worry about my girl, Coach Marisa Moseley in Wisconsin. She could be on the hot seat. The life blood of any program is recruiting and skill development. Coach Moseley is one of best at skill development. Recruiting is always tough when you are not winning or with a program that is at or near the bottom. You take a 2 or a 3 star player and do your best at skill development. We will see what develops with Coach Moseley at Wisconsin. Wishing her all the best.

I hear you regarding Neighbors, but how patient are programs willing to be in this new age of college basketball? Coach Harper got about 5 years with tournament appearances on her resume. Do you think Arkansas fans have the patience to wait while other SEC programs are bouncing back faster than theirs?

 

[Stagnant]

Wisconsin, Arizona State, and Arkansas are coaches that should be fired imo. I would have said Graves last year, but he bought himself some time.

If your team underachieves during the season and then you lose a lot of players to the transfer portal; if that happens multiple times… then you should be fired. Because what exactly are you accomplishing? You are not winning on the court. You are not even graduating your student athletes.

I kind of think no one from the big east will get fired this year. Maybe there will be an official Doug Bruno replacement in the summer I guess?

 

[Bigboote]

I agree with most of what’s been said, including Mike Neighbors having a LOOOOONG leash due to his deep ties in Arkansas. I just have a couple of comments:

It really was time for both McKeown and Pingeton to go a couple of years (not factoring in length of contract).

Coquese Washington: I’d completely forgotten that Rutgers hired her. I’ll say what I said then, before I’d blocked it from my mind: What were they (allegedly) thinking.

I love Doug Bruno to pieces, and he’s had a tremendous run. I’m sure he wants to go out on a high note, but sometimes you just gotta play the hand you’re holding, even if it sucks. My heart was warmed seeing him in the stands at the UConn game, sometimes I know he’s okay and could retire with hope that he’s got a few good years ahead of him.

 

[triaddukefan]

As we are now past the halfway point of the conference season and 65% or more of the whole season, I though it time to take a look at some of the underperforming teams/coaches and see who should be concerned.


I would agree all 5 are still on the hot seat and would add a few more whose underperformance needs evaluation:
SMU-Toyelle Wilson (2026) SMU joined the ACC this year and is struggling and Toyelle is in year 4 and not really showing improvement. I think she will get one more year to show improvement and with the contract due to expire.
Wake Forest-Megan Gebbia (2027?) Meg took over from Jen Hoover and has been underwhelming in her 3 years going 8-39 in conference including 1-10 this year. She needs talent and she needs to improve or her time will not be long in Raleigh.

Winston-Salem

 

[dws3665]

Neighbors's seat is definitely hot. A significant portion of the fanbase is really tired of him, and this year's results are not helping. The team is young and, apart from Higginbottom, not entirely SEC caliber.

The tricky part about getting rid of him is, who are you going to get that will come on board given the abysmally low support that the Department is providing the WBB program? All the NIL is being given to MBB and football, and Neighbors has to try to recruit SEC players with mid-major level NIL offers, and keep his talented players when they are getting more lucrative NIL offers dangled in front of them. Without a significant surge of support, I don't know who they can get. Who takes a job where you have to compete with Dawn, Kim, and Vic, but don't have enough money to compete with Tom, Dick and Harry?

HIs results the past couple years merit firing, but I'm really curious about whether the circumstances (and introduction of revenue sharing) buy him another year. He's still under contract through 2027-28.

 

[WBBTakeover]

There's a seat warming up in Hooville, but she should get one more season as long as there aren't any damaging allegations. 15-34 in the ACC is not good.

 

[WBBTakeover]

Do you have a link for the Kieger extension? Don’t see it on the PSU website. Makes no sense.

It may not exist. I can't see an athletic department that had their football team make it to the CFP semis and a volleyball team that won the national championship (by going through Nebraska along the way) giving an extension to an underperforming coach who has also faced abuse and racism allegations.

 

[Dillon77]

It may not exist. I can't see an athletic department that had their football team make it to the CFP semis and a volleyball team that won the national championship (by going through Nebraska along the way) giving an extension to an underperforming coach who has also faced abuse and racism allegations.

Wow. I had initially no found any luck on this extension, but did in this latest go-round. Short on numbers and details but here it is.

Breaking: Penn State women’s basketball head coach Carolyn Kieger has officially signed a historic contract extension, making waves in the collegiate basketball world. The new deal.... - TOPUPSPORTNEWS

“Penn State Women’s Basketball Coach Carolyn Kieger Signs Historic Double-Record Contract Extension” Penn State women’s

topupsportnews.co.uk

That's nuts. As noted, the volleyball wins an NC and Penn State football gets to the Final Four. Kieger is mired in mediocrity, padding her records with relatively easy OOC schedules before they droop in B1G play. Administration should be examined for misuse of taxpayer funds. Geesh.

Staying on the B1G and a former Penn State coach, I think Coquese Washington's contract should be eaten and a subcommittee put in place to really examine what Rutgers wants to do in women's hoops. The Garden State produces some of the better high school basketball and save for Destiny Adams coming back from North Carolina, they're nowhere to be found in Piscataway.

Whomever is considered/hired has to have a strategy and the backing of the administration for getting some kids to stay home.

 

[BigTenGuy]

Wow. I had initially no found any luck on this extension, but did in this latest go-round. Short on numbers and details but here it is.

Breaking: Penn State women’s basketball head coach Carolyn Kieger has officially signed a historic contract extension, making waves in the collegiate basketball world. The new deal.... - TOPUPSPORTNEWS

“Penn State Women’s Basketball Coach Carolyn Kieger Signs Historic Double-Record Contract Extension” Penn State women’s

topupsportnews.co.uk

That's nuts. As noted, the volleyball wins an NC and Penn State football gets to the Final Four. Kieger is mired in mediocrity, padding her records with relatively easy OOC schedules before they droop in B1G play. Administration should be examined for misuse of taxpayer funds. Geesh.

Staying on the B1G and a former Penn State coach, I think Coquese Washington's contract should be eaten and a subcommittee put in place to really examine what Rutgers wants to do in women's hoops. The Garden State produces some of the better high school basketball and save for Destiny Adams coming back from North Carolina, they're nowhere to be found in Piscataway.

Whomever is considered/hired has to have a strategy and the backing of the administration for getting some kids to stay home.

Something is off about Kieger’s purported extension. A UK source has it, but no Pennsylvania media. I’m skeptical.

 

[Dillon77]

As we are now past the halfway point of the conference season and 65% or more of the whole season, I though it time to take a look at some of the underperforming teams/coaches and see who should be concerned.

At the beginning of the year-ESPN had identified a few programs under scrutiny, school listed with coach and contract expiration:
Boston College-Joanna Bernabei-McNamee (2026?) She's 4-8 and 13-12 overall but this is year 7 and she's only made one post season WNIT 3 years ago, add in the number of transfers out of the program and this could be it for her
Missouri-Robin Pingeton (2025) Actually Mizzou has been better this year according to NET but her 1-9 Conference record is abysmal and she has not done well since Sophie Cunningham graduated. She got a reprieve last year with the AD leaving in Feb but now with her contract expiring....see ya!
Texas Tech-Krista Gurlich (2025?) She took over a tough situation but had not done anything with the opportunity at her alma mater, she's 3-9 in 13th place in conference and is in her last year (I suspect) of her contract. Expectations are higher here.
Houston-Ronald Hughey 2025) I can't believe it's been 10 years already and he's 140-188 career at Houston. He's clearly the worst team in the Big 12 and shows no signs of improvement. Add in his contract expiring and the Houston job will be open in March.
Northwestern-Joe McKeown (2025?) Joe is 68 and to be 69 in May. He's had a great career but he's 0-10 thus far and he needs to retire.

I would agree all 5 are still on the hot seat and would add a few more whose underperformance needs evaluation:
SMU-Toyelle Wilson (2026) SMU joined the ACC this year and is struggling and Toyelle is in year 4 and not really showing improvement. I think she will get one more year to show improvement and with the contract due to expire.
Wake Forest-Megan Gebbia (2027?) Meg took over from Jen Hoover and has been underwhelming in her 3 years going 8-39 in conference including 1-10 this year. She needs talent and she needs to improve or her time will not be long in Raleigh.
Xavier-Billie Chambers (2028) Sadly, this is just year 2 for the former Iona coach but it has been an abysmal 2 years. They are 1-29 in conference play and 7-44 overall. This is not remotely an improvement. She will get more time but it looks inevitable....
Wisconsin-Marissa Moseley (2026) Another sad story for us on the BY, the record was concerning at 19-46 conference play in year 4 but add in those allegations and I fear the end in Madison.
UCF-Sytia Messier (2027) Her 8-37 conference record tells it all. She needs talent and she needs conference wins.
ASU-Natashia Adair (2027) I admire her moxie but she seems oblivious to the shortcomings of her team with a paltry 6-41 conference record between the PAC 12 and Big 12. This is only year 3 so she will get at least one more year but again, lack of improvement has me in agreement with @azfan

Other schools I have concerns about:
Penn State-Carolyn Kieger just got the longest and highest contract extension for a women's coach at PSU within the past week. Why? Who knows as her 26-77 conference record is atrocious, she's 1-11 this year and she has seen an exodus of good players regularly.
DePaul-Doug Bruno (2026?) Doug is 74 and has had health issues this year. I hope he just retires and enjoys the legacy he built.
Purdue-Katie Gearlds (2027) Again, a fairly recent hire but her start is going well at a school that expects to compete for conferene titles. She's 22-42 in conference play, that is not going to win a title.
Rutgers-Coquese Washington (2028) I was confused when they hired her in the first place and her 3 years thus far have not changed my mind. She's 8-40 in conference play at Rutgers and she too has seen an exodus of good players.

Let me know what others people are curious about as I do have all the P4 plus BE records (and salaries) updated through today.

Thanks for doing this, as per usual. In mondo agreement on most of these, but will add a comment here or there:

- Wake Forest: Megan Gabbia had a good first year, but then Jewell Spears took her act to Knoxville. Gabbia has basically tried to make do with the remaining supporting cast and her recruits sometimes show promise and most of the time, don't. You can tell she knows what she's doing but the talent level simply isn't there to compete. I still think she'll get another year in Winston-Salem. (Wake moved from the Triad a long time ago! )

- Northwestern: We've been discussing Joe McKeown's imminent departure for so long I remember thinking Niele Ivey or Megan Duffy could be possible successors! Maybe Northwestern has a strong sense of loyalty to Joe (he seems like a good guy) and/or a long contract, but his performance since Veronica Burton has left is making the Wildcats irrelevant.

- Purdue: Katie Gearlds is a former Purdue player who was expected to step in and make things happen. But I've been underwhelmed by her performance. ND has played them the last two years and mid-majors have played smarter and better. While one or two recruits have done ok, another -- Mary Alice Stevenson -- left for Stanford. I don't think they'll chop her yet: the youngest and best of the Reynolds sisters is enrolling next year. The other two Reynolds girls have not performed as Gearlds probably hoped. They'll have to because all of the Purdue upperclassmen are gone after this year.

- Penn State: As noted in another post, the PSU athletic department and Board of whomever approved this "historic extension" should be examined/investigated for misuse of state funds. The best way to use state funds would've been to finance her exit package. Well, this will keep them mediocre for a long time.

- Rutgers: This was an ill-conceived match and hire from the get go. Kiyomi Miller will probably bolt after this year and Destiny Adams is out of eligibility, so there will be an empty locker room of top-rate talent -- just like she found it. And that's the issue: NJ has too many good hoopsters and she hasn't found any to come to the banks of the Raritan River.

 

[Dillon77]

Something is off about Kieger’s purported extension. A UK source has it, but no Pennsylvania media. I’m skeptical.

With you....Defies logic to me.

And if Penn State was proud/happy about it, they would've put out a release, as they did with the extension in 2022.

Double MissourI: Show me (well, us)

 

[Bigboote]

Something is off about Kieger’s purported extension. A UK source has it, but no Pennsylvania media. I’m skeptical.

I’m wondering too. Take this sentence, for example:

This contract comes at a pivotal time, as the Kieger has helped the Nittany Lions become a competitive force in the Big Ten.

With Penn State at 1-12 in the B1G, I began to wonder if this is a spoof.

I went to the main page of Top up Sports UK, and the lead story has Raven Johnson decommitting from South Carolina and committing to Texas, no longer being part of SC’s “highly anticipated recruiting class.” It has her announcing it this morning, two days after Raven played against UT.

COLUMBIA, SC – In a stunning turn of events, highly touted women's basketball recruit Raven Johnson has decommitted from the University of South Carolina and committed to the University of Texas - I've loved Texas since I was a little girl," she wrot

Raven Johnson Decommits from South Carolina, Commits to Texas COLUMBIA, SC – In a

topupsportnews.co.uk

 

[yhun89]

BC coach needs to go. As an ACC watcher.

I swear, every time a good player of hers (Todd or Wggoner) start going on a scoring run, she just benches them for no reason.

Not to mention lack of offensive sets. When they faced Duke, there was hardly any motion on the offense, besides a few useless screens. Just stand around and wait for the ball essentially, which Duke had a field day with shutting down.

And also that strange year where she lost Gakdeng and Mair (Mair was a hometown girl who wanted to be near family), and there were rumors about a toxic locker room swirling around.

She had a good run with Schwartz, Soule, Garraud, Dickens, Lacey, etc (was it 2021?). But after that, things fell apart.

 

[Huskee11]

I’m wondering too. Take this sentence, for example:

This contract comes at a pivotal time, as the Kieger has helped the Nittany Lions become a competitive force in the Big Ten.

With Penn State at 1-12 in the B1G, I began to wonder if this is a spoof.

I went to the main page of Top up Sports UK, and the lead story has Raven Johnson decommitting from South Carolina and committing to Texas, no longer being part of SC’s “highly anticipated recruiting class.” It has her announcing it this morning, two days after Raven played against UT.

COLUMBIA, SC – In a stunning turn of events, highly touted women's basketball recruit Raven Johnson has decommitted from the University of South Carolina and committed to the University of Texas - I've loved Texas since I was a little girl," she wrot

Raven Johnson Decommits from South Carolina, Commits to Texas COLUMBIA, SC – In a

topupsportnews.co.uk

When I try to go on their website, Norton jumps in and gives me a "Dangerous Website Blocked" message. So make of that what you will.