Bryan Hodgson, one of the nation’s top recruiters and a rising head coach, was named the University of South Florida head men’s basketball coach on March 24, 2025.
Hodgson, 37, is South Florida’s 12th men’s basketball coach and has coached collegiately for 18 years. He came to Tampa from Arkansas State, where he spent two seasons as head coach. He guided the Red Wolves to two of the most successful seasons in program history, with back-to-back 20-win seasons. During the 2023-24 campaign, after inheriting a team that lost 20 games, he led Arkansas State’s turnaround, which included its first postseason appearance since 1999. The Red Wolves also set program records for scoring (2,019) and field goals made (1,021). He was also named a finalist for the Joe B. Hall Award, given to the nation’s top first-year head coach.
In 2024-25, the Red Wolves finished with a 25-11 record, the best in program history. The season featured a top-20 victory, saw the Red Wolves secure the Sun Belt Conference regular-season title, and marked their first National Invitation Tournament appearance in more than 30 years. Their offense was ranked one of the top 50 scoring offenses in the nation and led the conference at the end of the regular season, while their defense ranked second.
Hodgson’s recruiting classes ranked atop the Sun Belt Conference in both of his seasons at Arkansas State and the incoming recruiting class is currently ranked 35th in the nation, according to 247 Sports.
Before Arkansas State, he served as an assistant under Nate Oats at Alabama from 2019 to 2023 and played a key role in landing top-15 recruiting classes each season. Alabama advanced to the NCAA Tournament in three straight seasons during Hodgson’s time there, including two Sweet 16 appearances. In 2021 and 2023, the Crimson Tide won both the Southeastern Conference regular-season and tournament championships.
From 2015 to 2019, Hodgson played a pivotal role in the University at Buffalo’s rise as a mid-major powerhouse, where he also served under Oats. He assisted in three NCAA Tournament runs, three Mid-American Conference tournament championships, two regular-season conference titles, and the program’s highest-ever national ranking (no. 14). He developed 2019 MAC Player of the Year CJ Massinburg, who finished his career as a three-time All-MAC honoree and second in school history with 1,990 career points, including 273 three-pointers.
Hodgson’s coaching career began at Fredonia State University, where he served as an assistant coach. He then went to Jamestown Community College and Midland College, where he led recruiting efforts and conducted player development workouts and in-season practice sessions.
Throughout his career, Hodgson has coached 12 players who went on to compete in the NBA, including four first-round picks. In the 2023 NBA Draft, Brandon Miller was drafted no. 2 overall to the Charlotte Hornets, and Noah Clowney was drafted no. 21 to the Brooklyn Nets. The San Antonio Spurs selected Joshua Primo as the no. 12 overall pick in 2021 and the New Orleans Pelicans drafted Kira Lewis, Jr. with the no. 13 overall pick in 2020.
His exceptional recruiting ability has earned him recognition as one of The Athletic’s top 25 up-and-coming coaches and one of the 50 most impactful high-major assistant coaches. He was also one of 30 assistant coaches named to the 2016 Under Armour 30 Under 30 Team by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. 247Sports.com also previously named him the no. 2 recruiter in the country.
Hodgson played collegiately at Jamestown Community College for two seasons and served as team captain both years. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sports management from Fredonia State University in 2011 and a master’s in education from the University of the Southwest in 2015.
A western New York native, Hodgson was placed in foster care as an infant and adopted at age two. He mentors children through Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. He is also the founder and president of Coaching Love Inc., which raises awareness for at-risk youth, particularly those in the foster care system or waiting to be adopted, through basketball and other sports.
Hodgson and his fiancée, Jordan, have a son, Jett, who was born in 2024.
Bryan Hodgson Coaching History
2025-Present Head Coach, University of South Florida
2023-2025 Head Coach, Arkansas State University
2019-2023 Assistant Coach, University of Alabama
2015-2019 Assistant Coach, University of Buffalo
2014-2015 Assistant Coach, Midland College
2013-2014 Volunteer Assistant, Midland College
2010-2013 Assistant Coach, Jamestown Community College
2007-2010 Assistant Coach, Fredonia State University
