The 2026 college basketball coaching carousel is already heating up with Kansas State's firing of Jerome Tang creating the first high-major vacancy. The Wildcats dismissed Tang after just three seasons despite his 2023 Elite Eight run, leaving them with a 1-11 Big 12 record this season. Athletic director Gene Taylor is searching for Tang's replacement with names like Utah State's Jerrod Calhoun, Belmont's Casey Alexander, and Creighton's Alan Huss already circulating.

Several other high-major coaches find themselves on the hot seat as the season winds down. Arizona State's Bobby Hurley faces an uncertain future with his contract expiring and the Sun Devils missing the NCAA tournament for three straight seasons. Cincinnati's Wes Miller has the Bearcats trending upward after a four-game winning streak, but he's still owed nearly $10 million if fired before April 1. LSU's Matt McMahon is under pressure after a disappointing SEC season despite a strong start, while Georgia Tech's Damon Stoudamire struggles with the Yellow Jackets in last place in the ACC.

Memphis's Penny Hardaway and Butler's Thad Matta also face questions about their futures as their teams underwhelm. With more than a dozen high-major jobs potentially opening, this could be another busy coaching carousel cycle. The mix of buyout clauses, NIL considerations, and varying levels of program support will shape which coaches survive and which programs land their next leader.