Coaching Carousel: Four mid-major coaches in line for P5 bumps

The yearly coaching carousel has already started turning. This week, multiple D-I programs decided to move on from their current leadership. These firings are following the Louisville and Maryland jobs coming open mid-season.

With the inevitable movement ahead, On3 looks at some mid-major coaches who could be in the mix for bumps this off-season. 

John Becker, 53 years old, Vermont

Becker got his first opportunity as a head coach at D-III Gallaudet College. Located in Washington DC, Gallaudet is a school for the deaf and hard of hearing; Becker was the head coach for two seasons until 1999. He got his next opportunity in 2011 at Vermont, where he is currently. Becker has a career 254-101 record at Vermont, where he has qualified for a post-season tournament every season, including four NCAA tournaments. Vermont is currently 25-5 this season.

Ties: Becker was an assistant at Gallaudet, where he was later named head coach. He was then an assistant at Catholic and Vermont before being named head coach at Vermont in 2011.

Matt McMahon, 43 years old, Murray State

Murray State was McMahon’s first head coaching job, where he has been since the 2015-16 season and compiled a 151-66 overall record. He has finished first or tied for first in the OVC in five of his seven regular seasons and made the NCAA tournament two of the last three seasons. McMahon played at Appalachian State under Buzz Peterson, playing in 90 games and averaging a shade under 7.0 points for his career. The Racers are currently 28-2 this season.

Ties: McMahon is from Tennessee and played at Appalachian State. He was an assistant coach at Appalachian State, Wilmington, and Murray State. 

Jeff Lindor, 44 years old, Wyoming

This season is Lindor’s second as the head coach at Wyoming; he was previously the head coach at Northern Colorado. His combined record as a D-I head coach is 117-67. In Lindor’sfive seasons as a head coach, he has not finished first place in the league, and he played in one post-season tournament, winning the CIT championship in 2018. Lindor was a point guard who played at Mesa State and Western State from 1995 to 2000. Wyoming is current 23-7.

Ties: Lindor played at Mesa State and Western State. From 2001 to 2016, he was an assistant coach at Emporia State, Midland, Weber State, San Francisco, and Boise State. Lindor has been a head coach at Northern Colorado and now Wyoming. 

Grant McCasland, 45 years old, North Texas

North Texas is McCasland’s third position as a head coach. He previously spent two years at Midwestern State and a season at Arkansas State. McCasland has an overall record of 176-79 as a head coach, making four of six possible postseasons. At North Texas, McCasland is 101-55 overall with two first-place league finishes in five seasons. He played point guard at Baylor, where he graduated in 1999. North Texas is currently 22-4 and finished first place in the Conference USA West. 

Ties: McCasland played at Baylor. He started off coaching at Northeastern JC. He was named the head coach at Midland JC from 2004 to 2009 and then D-II Midwestern State until 2011. McCasland was an assistant at his alma mater, Baylor, from 2011 to 2016. Then the head job at Arkansas State for a season. He has been in North Texas since 2017.