As the college basketball regular season winds down, the pressure is ramping up-not just for players chasing tournament bids, but for coaches whose seats are heating up by the day. Sunday brought the first major shakeup of the year, with Kansas State and head coach Jerome Tang parting ways. It’s a reminder that the coaching carousel is right around the corner, and for some programs, the decision to hit reset might already be in motion.
Let’s take a closer look at a few coaches who could be following Tang out the door once the final buzzer sounds on the 2025-26 season.
Jeff Capel - Pittsburgh Panthers
Just a year ago, Jeff Capel looked like he had turned a corner at Pitt. He led the Panthers to the NCAA Tournament, earned ACC Coach of the Year honors, and secured a contract extension.
But the momentum from that breakthrough season has completely evaporated. Pitt has stumbled hard this year, sitting at just nine wins and tied for last in the ACC-a far cry from the promise they showed not long ago.
The buyout situation might complicate things, but the trajectory of the program makes it hard to envision Capel returning next season. The Panthers haven’t just regressed-they’ve unraveled, and in a league as competitive as the ACC, that kind of slide tends to force hands.
Jake Diebler - Ohio State Buckeyes
Jake Diebler’s still early in his tenure as Ohio State’s head coach, but the honeymoon period is already feeling like a distant memory. The Buckeyes are on the outside looking in when it comes to the NCAA Tournament bubble, and their inability to notch wins against top-tier opponents has fans restless.
Ironically, it was Diebler’s interim stint-highlighted by a stunning upset over No. 2 Purdue-that helped earn him the full-time job.
But now, that same spark has been hard to find. Ohio State isn’t a blue-blood basketball program, but it’s a place with enough resources and talent to expect regular March Madness appearances.
Diebler still has time to flip the narrative, but every game from here on out feels like a referendum on his future.
Kim English - Providence Friars
Kim English came into Providence with energy and optimism, and his first season showed promise with a 21-14 record after taking over for Ed Cooley. But the second act hasn’t lived up to the billing. The Friars are staring down a second straight losing season and have struggled to find their footing in a Big East that, frankly, isn’t as strong as it’s been in years past.
Providence fans are among the most passionate in the country. That passion is a weapon when things are going well-but it can turn quickly when the losses pile up. Right now, the noise is growing louder around English, and unless the Friars find a late-season spark, the pressure could be too much to ignore.
Micah Shrewsberry - Notre Dame Fighting Irish
In year three at Notre Dame, Micah Shrewsberry is still looking for a breakthrough. The Irish haven’t sniffed the NCAA Tournament under his watch and have consistently found themselves near the bottom of the ACC standings. While injuries-like the early-season loss of standout Markus Burton-have played a role, the lack of visible progress is hard to overlook.
Shrewsberry may get one more year to right the ship, but if so, it’ll be a make-or-break campaign. Notre Dame doesn’t need to be a perennial powerhouse, but it does need to show signs of life. So far, that spark hasn’t materialized.
Wes Miller - Cincinnati Bearcats
Wes Miller’s run at Cincinnati has been steady, but not spectacular. His overall record of 96-71 is respectable, especially considering the program’s jump to the Big 12-arguably the toughest conference in college basketball. But the Bearcats haven’t lived up to the preseason buzz, and the frustration is starting to build.
Cincinnati was once a fixture in the NCAA Tournament, making nine straight appearances before what’s about to become a seven-year drought. Miller’s mid-major background has raised questions about whether he’s the right fit for a high-major program, and the jury’s still out.
That said, the Bearcats have shown signs of life, winning three straight and heading into a stretch loaded with opportunity-Kansas, Texas Tech, BYU, and TCU are all on the horizon. If Miller can notch a few statement wins, he could buy himself more time. But if the Bearcats fade down the stretch, the program may decide it’s time to aim higher.
The coaching carousel is never short on drama, and this season promises to be no different. For the names above, the final weeks of the regular season won’t just determine tournament fates-they could decide job security. And in the high-stakes world of college basketball, the margin for error is razor-thin.