The spring of 2021 was a whirlwind in college basketball, with a staggering 61 out of 365 Division I teams switching head coaches. At the forefront, Hubert Davis took the reins at North Carolina, Chris Beard moved to Texas, and Mike Woodson stepped in at Indiana. Each faced their own set of challenges.
In a typical March madness frenzy, about 17% of teams underwent leadership changes-a rate rarely seen in any industry.
Arizona joined the fray a bit later, parting ways with Sean Miller in early April. They quickly considered several candidates, including Lakers assistant Miles Simon, Georgia Tech’s Josh Pastner, and Pacific’s Damon Stoudamire. They even reached out to Arkansas’ Eric Musselman and BYU’s Mark Pope, but none seemed to fit the bill.
Simon lacked head coaching experience, Stoudamire was still proving himself, and Pastner’s record at Georgia Tech was less than stellar.
The pressure was on for Arizona’s then-president Bobby Robbins and athletic director Dave Heeke to make the right choice. Skepticism was high, with some boosters doubting their decision-making.
Despite the doubts, Robbins and Heeke turned their attention to Gonzaga’s long-time assistant Tommy Lloyd. Though Gonzaga’s previous assistants hadn’t found much success as head coaches, Lloyd’s engaging personality and impressive recruiting track record stood out.
After meeting Lloyd and spending time with him in Spokane, Robbins and Heeke were convinced. Gonzaga’s athletic director, Mike Roth, even praised the decision, saying, “They hit a home run.
Tommy will be successful, I have no doubt. Arizona is getting a great coach and, more important, a really special individual.”
In a year when major programs like North Carolina, Indiana, Texas, and Oklahoma were hiring new coaches, Arizona’s choice of Lloyd proved to be the standout move.
Looking back, it’s surprising that Lloyd was even available. Washington had overlooked him when they hired Mike Hopkins, a decision that didn’t pan out as Hopkins was let go after five years.
Reflecting on Lloyd’s five seasons at Arizona, his record speaks volumes. Heading into the Big 12 Tournament final, he boasted a 142-35 record with three league championships-an unprecedented achievement for a coach in his first five seasons.