Pressure Index: Hot seat coaches, others in need of March Madness success

March Madness has officially started, which means that pressure is at an all-time high for many coaches, players and programs across the country. Some are fighting to hold onto their job, while others are looking to show that their future is brighter than previously thought.

This run of conference tournament and NCAA Tournament matchups provide everyone involved the opportunity to change the narrative surrounding them. Whether things went well, or they struggled, it no longer matters once they get a win and advance to the next round.

This article focuses on the coaches — and even a conference — who have either underperformed to this point or look dangerously close to joining that category with nothing but must-win games ahead. It also looks at the players who could benefit from a big month.

Check out which coaches, players and programs are currently under the most pressure to have a big month leading up to March Madness.

Rodney Terry

Rodney Terry took over the Texas job under unique circumstances, making the most of a promising season as an interim coach in 2022-23 before landing the full-time gig. Since that time, there has been multiple ups and downs but no catastrophic shift.

The struggle for Terry starts with his lack of status, while holding one of the biggest jobs in college basketball. Any time results are not going the right way, there are sure to be whispers about which top candidates might be interested in the opening.

Now headed the wrong direction and in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019 — despite the great performances of Tre Johnson, and the roster built through NIL — there is a growing question on the future.

Johnny Dawkins

Hot seat rankings entering the 2024-25 season likely included Johnny Dawkins at UCF, and that pressure appeared apparent in the way the roster was built. Big swings on talent have not looked entirely like a miss but did not lift NCAA Tournament hopes.

As they know look likely to miss the NCAA Tournament, there will be a long look at the future. While there are some positives to point to from the season which promise more next season, whether Dawkins is the man who leads the program forward remains in question.

Regardless of the decision made on Dawkins, UCF sits in an interesting spot within the Big 12 hierarchy as they balance spending with results in a top-heavy conference.

Kevin Kruger

UNLV remains the ‘sleeping giant’ people across college basketball talk about on a yearly basis, but even as the Mountain West has another good season the marquee program lags behind the list of contenders. That, by default, puts Kevin Kruger on the hot seat.

The most interesting thing about the UNLV job is the interest it seems to draw. The administration promises to have no shortage of candidates from the mid-major ranks if they opt to make a change given the current landscape of the coaching carousel.

Whether the Rebels make a change or not, they will continue to be the program everyone across the sport roots for to find a successful formula.

Retirement rumors

Moreso than ever it feels like, there are retirement rumors about coaching from the high-major to mid-major level anywhere with a dip in success from a veteran coach. The new era of transfer portal movement and NIL resources has already driven many staples to walk away, breeding more conversation about those left.

Fran McCaffery has become a staple of Iowa basketball, becoming one of the longest-tenured coaches in college basketball, especially at the high-major level. However, the results have started to tail off and given his age there are growing questions about the future.

Likewise, Tad Boyle faced questions about his desire to continue at Colorado, while Thad Maata and Steve Alford responded to rumors themselves. To this point, they have all denied any desire to walk away from college basketball.

Obviously, these jobs would all intrigue different levels of candidates across the country, but the similarity comes in the awkward position. When rumors that a coach should retire reach the point it deserves addressing, there is clearly pressure to change the perspective with a turn of success.

Mid-major coaches

The list of mid-major coaches under pressure to perform in the month of March ranges from those on the hot seat, all the way to the best candidates for high-major jobs. The latter group can create an advantage over their peers with a conference title and NCAA Tournament performance.

The group of coaches looking to make a case includes McNeese coach Will Wade, who has been mentioned as one of the top candidates in the cycle as his NCAA restrictions come to an end.

Other coaches in the category include, but are certainly not limited to: Matt Langel, Ben McCollum, Bryce Drew, Ross Hodge, Andy Kennedy, Russell Turner, Eric Olen, Ryan Odom.

The ACC

The ACC is under a lot of pressure to perform in March, given the growing perception that the conference has fallen from its former glory and now ranks among the weakest high-major conferences.

Duke continues to carry the weight of the conference up top, with the only real shot to lift a national championship this season. However, the performances of Clemson and Louisville in the NCAA Tournament will help shape the view of this season, along with whether North Carolina, SMU or Wake Forest can find success.

The future of the conference starts now, as the perception changes along with several coaching jobs. Although many others got a vote of confidence for another season, and the question remains whether addition NIL backing and front office positions will help build those programs back up.

Kansas

Kansas has been one of the most successful programs in college basketball under Bill Self, who has won plenty over his Hall of Fame career. However, this group of Jayhawks has disappointed on multiple occasions in recent seasons and left plenty to be desired.

The group of seniors hold an interesting spot in Kansas history, and surely want to rally together over these final weeks to get the sour taste out of everyone’s mouth and end their career with positive memories between them and the fanbase.

It is also important for Self, who has dealt with retirement and job rumors for the first time in a long time, and is now under pressure to coach this roster to a new level and make significant changes which yield better results in the years to come.

NBA prospects

The month of March is an incredible platform for everyone to raise their stock, and the top NBA Draft prospects are no different. Countless times before, a player has made a spectacular run through the conference tournament and NCAA Tournament on their way up boards.

The list of prospects who can help themselves is nearly endless, from the projected lottery picks all the way down to fringe prospects who might get a combine invite based on what scouts see from them over a few games in the postseason.

It is not the most important part of the scouting process, but certainly plays a role in the narrative.