2026 Coaching Hires (the crazy season)

[Puppy Love]

Without the humor, much of what @Dillon77 said.

It only matters how outstanding it was for a coach in the A10 to have the win / loss records that she did. At the time you are referring to, the post-season opportunities for teams not making the NCAA from non-power conferences were less than now and making the WNIT at the time could be viewed as an accomplishment. And she gained experience - per what I said elsewhere - playing in a conference that plays a lot of the East Coast power teams in the OOC.

To be clear, I don't think coaches salaries should be what they are, but they are. It is a high salary but maybe that's what it takes to convince someone who almost certainly has had other options to get there.

I live about 20 minutes away from Kingston, RI. I think that any coach who pulls off any kind of winning team there has performed something of a miracle. It isn’t that it’s a bad place. There’s just nothing to make it stand out. It’s a bit far from Providence, the beaches are only a draw in the summer, winter weather is crappy. Other than a brief run for men’s basketball in the late ‘90’s, it isn’t really a basketball school. My hat is off to coach Reiss and I wish her well.

 

[southie]

Hey, hey., my Lone Star colleague..are you a little on edge after the Texas guys lost on a tip-in? 😉
From your perspective, I might see where you're coming from, but keep in mind that one reason so many of these mid-major coaches are valued is their ability to turn chicken into chicken salad. You might not dig the initial restaurant it was served in, but consider where it came from. Thar's hard work, my friend.

Did Florida, perhaps, bid against itself here? Possibly. But if they increased the NIL payout for her to get her to come and/or to succeed, then the overpay might be worth it.

Gosh knows the program pays out a lot of cash for most other sports....

Nope. My opinion of Reiss' resume' and Florida overpaying would be the same regardless of what happens in one men's basketball game.

I'm not sure how many current SEC head coaches Florida could have landed for $950k who have more impressive resumes' (post-season success) than Reiss' I'm sure there are a handful. Strictly comparing Reiss and Kristy Curry, I'd say South Florida landed the proven head coaching commodity with NCAA post-season success for $100k or so less than what UF will shell out.

 

[southie]

Without the humor, much of what @Dillon77 said.

It only matters how outstanding it was for a coach in the A10 to have the win / loss records that she did. At the time you are referring to, the post-season opportunities for teams not making the NCAA from non-power conferences were less than now and making the WNIT at the time could be viewed as an accomplishment. And she gained experience - per what I said elsewhere - playing in a conference that plays a lot of the East Coast power teams in the OOC.

To be clear, I don't think coaches salaries should be what they are, but they are. It is a high salary but maybe that's what it takes to convince someone who almost certainly has had other options to get there.

You really didn't answer my question, at least not directly.

Despite three seasons where Reiss won 21, 22, and 26 games, none resulted in an NCAA tournament bid. That tells me the (non-conference) SOS was very bad. Just looking at W/L record doesn't tell the entire story. The 2022-23 season where URI won 26 games and finished first in the conference regular season, they failed to win the conference tourney and secure the auto-bid.

So, in seven seasons, Reiss won one conference tournament title and it was this past season. If I were an A.D., I'd be looking at head coaching candidates' post-season success over their regular season W/L record.

 

[cancontent]

 

[DefenseBB]

Florida seems to have way overpaid for Tammy Reiss. I don't think one NCAA tourney bid in her seventh season at Rhode Island validates $950k. For that salary, I would have thought Florida would have hired a proven commodity like Kristy Curry.

2019–20	Rhode Island	13–16	6–10	11th
2020–21	Rhode Island	11–8	11–4	3rd
2021–22	Rhode Island	22–7	12–2	2nd	WNIT First Round
2022–23	Rhode Island	26–7	14–2	T-1st	WNIT Super Sixteen
2023–24	Rhode Island	21–14	10–6	6th
2024–25	Rhode Island	17–16	11–7	T–5th
2025–26	Rhode Island	28–5	16–2	T–1st	NCAA First Round

​

Southie, Rhody women’s hoop was about as bad as you could have gotten when Tammi took over. She elevated them so much and raised the talent, expectations and attendance to unbelievable levels. There are 22 D1 programs in New England and URI is now second in NE in attendance behind UConn. Kingston, RI is not exactly anywhere that people can get to easily (nearly as bad as Storrs). She also had her players go and support all the other women’s sports on campus. She will always have my respect and admiration.

 

[cancontent]

Oh boy. This isn't news our triad fan will be excited to see.

 

[Geew1992]

I have more questions......... My understanding is Coach Gabe was the reason for the 2 high school recruiting classes. I truly belive there is more going...

 

[cancontent]

Well that was quick. LOL. 😉

 

[TheFarmFan]

Well that was quick. LOL. 😉

Makes me wonder whether he was shown the door or leapt out of it... If there's been any knock on the LSU version of Mulkey, it's been mediocre high school recruiting, and Lazo would seem to fill that gap instantaneously.

 

[cancontent]

Makes me wonder whether he was shown the door or leapt out of it... If there's been any knock on the LSU version of Mulkey, it's been mediocre high school recruiting, and Lazo would seem to fill that gap instantaneously.

That was what Redus' specialty was supposed to be and a reason why Rutgers hired him. 🤔

My question is whether Lazo is the right fit for this role considering what happened in Tennessee. 🤔

 

[Ladeeeeda]

That was what Redus' specialty was supposed to be and a reason why Rutgers hired him. 🤔

My question is whether Lazo is the right fit for this role considering what happened in Tennessee. 🤔

I think he fits LSU perfectly. Kim M is a master at managing undisciplined athletes and he is really good at recruiting them!

 

[ochoopsfan]

A fabulous person who I met as an Asst coach at USC and a head coach at Mt. San Antonio College/Juco. Congrats after 14 years in Hawaii!!

 

[JDuro]

Coming back to The Palmetto State:

 

[JDuro]

Resigning after 4 seasons (50-75).

 

[southie]

That was what Redus' specialty was supposed to be and a reason why Rutgers hired him. 🤔

My question is whether Lazo is the right fit for this role considering what happened in Tennessee. 🤔

I'm not sure I have an accurate opinion of Lazo. He was at Miss. State before Caldwell lured him to Tennessee. For the 2026 high school recruiting class, Tennessee pretty much struck out on every high school recruit they brought in for official visits (Abii, Crittendon, Spaight, Jones, etc.) landing only Edwards and Minus; and that was coming off an unexpected inaugural Sweet 16 season for Caldwell.

Did he have a huge impact on their transfer portal classes and 2025 recruiting class? Perhaps. The 2025 signing class was highly ranked, but they did not produce collectively as true freshmen. Mia Pauldo started most of the season at PG and average about 10 ppg; the others averaged like 6, 4, 2, and 2 ppg.

 

[cancontent]

I'm not sure I have an accurate opinion of Lazo. He was at Miss. State before Caldwell lured him to Tennessee. For the 2026 high school recruiting class, Tennessee pretty much struck out on every high school recruit they brought in for official visits (Abii, Crittendon, Spaight, Jones, etc.) landing only Edwards and Minus; and that was coming off an unexpected inaugural Sweet 16 season for Caldwell.

Did he have a huge impact on their transfer portal classes and 2025 recruiting class? Perhaps. The 2025 signing class was highly ranked, but they did not produce collectively as true freshmen. Mia Pauldo started most of the season at PG and average about 10 ppg; the others averaged like 6, 4, 2, and 2 ppg.

Hence why I used the "🤔" emoji as I'm not sure the last 2 years is enough to say he's an excellent recruiter.

 

[packwrap]

Makes me wonder whether he was shown the door or leapt out of it... If there's been any knock on the LSU version of Mulkey, it's been mediocre high school recruiting, and Lazo would seem to fill that gap instantaneously.

LSU just had #1 hs recruiting class in the class of '25 with ZJohnson, Knox, Hines and Bourrage(now in portal). Wouldn't call that mediocre.

LSU is often playing as Mulkey likes to say "5 McD All-Americans", so recruiting has not really been a problem.

Keeping them, getting right mix, and good transfer fits has been more of the stumbling block. Still one rim rolling shot from Elite 8.

 

[Geew1992]

Makes me wonder whether he was shown the door or leapt out of it... If there's been any knock on the LSU version of Mulkey, it's been mediocre high school recruiting, and Lazo would seem to fill that gap instantaneously.

I read he gave his resignation

 

[Geew1992]

 

[BRS24]

Well this is an interesting turn of events ... TN ---> LSU ---> UCF

 

[TheFarmFan]

Well this is an interesting turn of events ... TN ---> LSU ---> UCF

Someone needs to tell his Twitter profile about this, still plastered in purple and yellow, lol:

https://x.com/CoachGabeLazo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2040466951735017528%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=

 

[cancontent]

Skim is my spirit animal. 😉

 

[Geew1992]

WTF!?

 

[cancontent]

WTF!?

Just saw it and was thinking the same thing. Considering how the season ended, I'm floored.

 

[Geew1992]

Just saw it and was thinking the same thing. Considering how the season ended, I'm floored.

I expect another mass exodus

 

[nickp91]

WTF!?

Takes the team to the Sweet 16 and gets fired

 

[XXXBgEast]

Just saw it and was thinking the same thing. Considering how the season ended, I'm floored.

Really?

go look at what i said about Abe at Georgia. It's the same scenario.

 

[cancontent]

Really?

go look at what i said about Abe at Georgia. It's the same scenario.

Not exactly. She took her team further than last season and had some impressive wins. Would have guessed she'd get a year reprieve.

 

[triaddukefan]

Not sure if this was posted but High Point is looking for a new coach. Banbury took us to heights never seen before, so I wish her well. Surprised she lasted so long in High Point. Every other Big South coach since 2020 that either won a championship or finished near the top left for a bigger job right afterwards.

 

[XXXBgEast]

I expect another mass exodus

Don't worry there wont be........