Photo courtesy of USF Athletics
By Dominic Feo
The University of South Florida men’s basketball team has found its new leader, hiring former Arkansas State head coach Bryan Hodgson.
Hodgson joins USF as the 12th head coach in the program’s 54 years.
The Bulls landed a coach who led Arkansas State to a 25-11 record last season and a Sun Belt Conference championship.
Despite Hodgson previously signing a contract extension with the Red Wolves on Jan 30. that went through 2031 and being linked to the vacant coaching position at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USF swooped in and paid a $900,000 buyout.
“I was offered several jobs… but none of them compared in any way shape or form to [USF],” Hodgson said in his introductory press conference on March 28. “I knew from my first conversation with [vice president of athletics] Michael Kelly and [senior associate athletics director] Lee Butler that this place was special.”
Kelly had nothing but praise for Hodgson.
“Bryan has been a part of winning programs at every level, demonstrating a remarkable ability to recruit top talent, develop players and build championship-caliber teams,” Kelly said. “His passion, energy and vision for USF basketball align perfectly with our commitment to excellence, we believe he is the right leader to take this program to new heights, and we can’t wait to see his impact on our student-athletes and the Tampa Bay community.”
Hodgson was named as the second-best recruiter in the country by 247Sports.com while he was an assistant coach at the University of Alabama from 2019 to 2023. He recruited top talent in Tuscaloosa, including forward Brandon Miller who was drafted second overall in the 2023 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft by the Charlotte Hornets.
Eleven other current or former NBA players have also been coached by Hodgson, including forward Noah Clowney, and guards Joshua Primo and Kira Lewis Jr., who were also first round draft selections.
Hodgson brings with him a slew of star players to Tampa Bay.
Forward Tristian Beckford, who is currently a four-star recruit in the 2025 class, has decided to follow Hodgson, flipping his commitment from Arkansas State to USF on March 26. The Ontario, Canada native would have been the highest rated recruit in Red Wolves history.
Two of Arkansas State’s current players have also joined Hodgson, guard Joesph Pinion and forward Izaiyah Nelson, announcing their transfer to USF on March 25.
Hodgson replaces interim head coach Ben Fletcher who finished with a 13-19 record after former head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim’s sudden passing on Oct 24.
Some USF players who joined the team under the previous coaching staff have decided to enter the transfer portal, including guard Jayden Reid, who was the Bulls leading scorer last season, guards Kobe Knox, Kasen Jennings, Kameren Wright, Jimmie Williams and Nic Smith.
