Sometimes in college basketball, knowing when to walk away is just as important as knowing how to win. These coaches had their moment, maybe even a few great years, but instead of riding off into the sunset, they stuck around a little too long, which showed.
Whether it was declining records, outdated strategies, or just an overall vibe shift, the end of their tenures left fans and programs quietly muttering, “it’s time.” Here are 20 college basketball coaches who didn’t know when to say goodbye.
20. Tom Crean, Georgia
At first, he brought energy and fire, but the wins never followed in Athens. Eventually, the seat under him felt like the only thing heating up.
19. Johnny Dawkins, Stanford
Dawkins had a solid start with some early promise, but it slowly became a long mediocrity stretch. The Cardinal needed a jolt, and he wasn’t delivering it.
18. Leonard Hamilton, Florida State
Hamilton built a strong program, but those final seasons got quiet fast. The tournament runs faded, and so did the spark.
17. Mark Turgeon, Maryland
Turgeon was steady but rarely spectacular and wore thin after a decade. Terps fans were craving a leap, and they got… more of the same.
16. John Thompson III, Georgetown
He succeeded in keeping the family legacy strong, but the Hoyas slowly drifted into irrelevance. It became clear that a fresh voice was needed.
15. Ben Howland, Mississippi State
Howland had a resume, but his time in Starkville felt like a long wait for something that never arrived. The results didn’t justify the patience.
14. Bruce Weber, Kansas State
Weber had his moments, including a deep March run, but things fizzled hard toward the end. The Wildcats started to look more lost than competitive.
13. Jim Boeheim, Syracuse
A legend, no doubt, but the final stretch turned into a retirement tour with more losses than wins. The zone defense aged—and so did the program’s edge.
12. Bobby Hurley, Arizona State
Hurley brought passion and a big name, but the results never met the hype. Eventually, the Sun Devils’ expectations outpaced the progress.
11. Danny Manning, Wake Forest
It just never clicked. Manning stayed long enough for fans to grow tired of waiting for his teams to figure it out.
10. Steve Alford, UCLA
The fit always felt weird, and the wins didn’t silence the doubters. Once the wheels fell off, they fell off.
9. Travis Ford, Oklahoma State
Ford had time, talent, and chances—but he could never string together enough success. Eventually, it was rinsed and repeated with disappointment.
8. Frank Haith, Missouri
Things started okay, but the downward spiral was undeniable. Fans were checked out before the administration finally followed.
7. Jim Crews, Saint Louis
Crews inherited a good thing and coasted for a while. But once the early momentum faded, the slide was slow and painful.
6. Mark Fox, Georgia
Fox consistently hovered near mediocrity, and that only works for so long. Bulldogs fans needed more than just “not terrible.”
5. Ernie Kent, Washington State
The Cougars never took off under Kent. After a few too many basement finishes, the writing was on the wall.
4. Tom Davis, Iowa
He had a great run, but things got stale. The Hawkeyes needed a modern refresh and didn’t get it soon enough.
3. Herb Sendek, Arizona State
Sendek was fine, but that became the problem. Fine turned into frustrating after nearly a decade of underwhelming finishes.
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2. Mike Brey, Notre Dame
Brey had an incredible run, but those last few seasons looked like a team going through the motions. It was time for a new chapter in South Bend.
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1. Rick Barnes, Texas
Barnes consistently had talent but rarely capitalized when it mattered most. Longhorns fans waited years for that big breakthrough—it never came.
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