Chip Bremer
Over the past several years, ACC men’s basketball has seen an influx of new coaches who turned around their respective programs and breathed new life into the conference.
Names like Pat Kelsey, Ryan Odom and Jai Lucas already have established themselves as some of the ACC’s best and brightest along the sideline, and each could very well bring a national title as well.
This year’s freshman class of head coaches also represent solid hires in their own way, and while they may not bear the same results in their first seasons, they each have the potential to put their programs on a path for long-term success. Here’s a look at all five of the ACC’s new coaches and why they will outperform their predecessors:
Michael Malone, UNC
After a few years of relative mediocrity under Hubert Davis, the Tar Heels finally went outside the family to bring in a different sideline approach. Malone is a proven winner at the professionallevel, having won over 500 games in a 12-year career, including an NBA title with the Denver Nuggets in 2023. However, he hasn’t coached at the college level since 2001, and the fan base will need to be patient so that he can deliver results without falling victim to the same lack of institutional control that has plagued UNC’s football program.
Why he’ll succeed: Malone already has proven he can reel in an infusion of talent the program sorely needs, and he’s even scoured the international circuit to get some of the best prospectsavailable, including big men Sayon Keita and Alex Samodurov. Plus, he’s surrounded himself with a quality staff proficient in player development, and if the team can adapt quickly to the pro sets in his arsenal, the Tar Heels should have a quick turnaround.
Justin Gainey, NC State
For a program that needed a save after the Will Wade debacle, the Wolfpack did well to pluck Gainey when they did. The former Wolfpack point guard has no previous head coaching experience, but he’s been the heir apparent under Tennessee’s Rick Barnes for several years, and He was the chief architect of a defense that consistently ranked among the best in the nation.
Why he’ll succeed: Gainey is a tactical genius when it comes to game planning, which is something the Wolfpack sorely lacked in recent years, and his approach to the game and his appeal to the fanbase will make him an instant hit in Raleigh. He’s also well-connected with prospects and has built an experienced coaching staff that will only boost his stock as a recruiter and program builder.
Gerry McNamara, Syracuse
Since the retirement of Jim Boeheim, the Orange have floundered under former player/long-time assistant Adrian Autry, but now the administration has pivoted to McNamara, another former player and member of the Boeheim coaching tree, in the hopes he can move the program forward. Last season, “G-Mac” coached Siena to its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2010, and now he’s looking to repeat that winning formula—a full 23 years after he and Carmelo Anthony led Syracuse to a national title.
Why he’ll succeed: McNamara has strong ties to the Syracuse program, having served for 12 years as an assistant under Boeheim, but he’s also a crafty sideline tactician who knows how to get the most from his personnel. Aside from that, he also brings a great deal of passion to the position—something sorely lacking under Autry.
Luke Murray, Boston College
No program has needed a positive change more than Boston College, and they finally seem to be moving in that direction with the hire of former UConn assistant Luke Murray. A strong disciplinarian and brilliant strategist, Murray served as lead assistant under Chris Mack at Xavier and Louisville and under Danny Hurley at Towson, Quinnipiac, Rhode Island and UConn, while establishing an offensive system that brought the Huskies national championships in 2023 and 2024.
Why he’ll succeed: Besides his analytical approach, Murray is a staunch advocate of building and sustaining program culture, and no BC coach has ever done more for reshaping the culture than he has in the short time he’s been at the helm. In addition, he has significant recruiting ties and has already restructured his roster to be more competitive in the ACC in years to come.
Scott Cross, Georgia Tech
A seasoned and consistently successful coach, Cross brings extensive experience and a winning pedigree to the Tech program, which has struggled to find consistency since the days of Bobby Cremmins. Cross has amassed more than 350 career Division I wins as head coach at UT Arlington and most recently at Troy, where he led the Trojans to back-to-back NCAA tournaments and back-to-back Sun Belt regular-season championships. The only question is whether he can translate that success to the rigors of ACC basketball.
Why he’ll succeed: Besides his widespread success (albeit at a lower level), Cross is an expert in player development and has a history of winning with limited resources—something desperately needed in the Yellowjacket program. It’s a slightly different approach to how Tech has facilitated coaching changes in the past, but it’s certainly one that can generate results down the road.