In a dramatic turn for one of college basketball’s storied programs, the Cincinnati Bearcats have parted ways with head coach Wes Miller following a crushing 66-65 overtime defeat to UCF in the Big 12 Tournament. The game, played on March 11, 2026, at Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center, dashed the Bearcats’ NCAA Tournament hopes for the fifth consecutive season and immediately put Miller’s future in doubt. Athletic director John Cunningham wasted little time, making the decision to dismiss Miller just days after the loss. According to multiple reports, the formal separation will be made official on April 1, when Miller’s buyout drops from $9.9 million to $4.7 million.
Miller’s tenure in Cincinnati was marked by initial enthusiasm and high expectations. A promising young coach, Miller was hired in 2021 after earning accolades such as ESPN’s No. 1 Coach Under 40 and a spot on The Athletic’s 40 Under 40 list. He arrived following the firing of John Brannen, inheriting a program with a rich tradition and passionate fan base. Over his five seasons, Miller compiled a 100-74 overall record, including a 41-51 mark in Big 12 play. Despite flashes of solid basketball and some memorable wins, Miller never managed to guide the Bearcats to the NCAA Tournament—a glaring omission for a school that once dominated under Bob Huggins and counts all-time great Oscar Robertson among its alumni.
"Wes Miller did plenty of good things in five seasons at Cincinnati, but he didn’t do the one thing he was hired to do—get the Bearcats to the NCAA Tournament," wrote Heartland College Sports, encapsulating the sentiment shared by many around the program. The Bearcats’ inability to break through in the postseason ultimately sealed Miller’s fate. As FOX19 NOW Sports Director Joe Danneman confirmed, “Miller’s firing comes two days after the Bearcats lost in overtime to UCF in the Big 12 Tournament.”
With Miller’s departure, Cincinnati embarks on its 29th head coaching search, and speculation is already swirling about who will take the helm. Athletic director John Cunningham, known for his under-the-radar approach to coaching hires, is leading the search. His recent surprise appointment of Scott Satterfield as head football coach suggests that Bearcat fans should expect the unexpected. However, several candidates have already emerged as frontrunners, each bringing a unique pedigree and approach to the table.
At the top of nearly every shortlist is Jerrod Calhoun, currently the head coach at Utah State. Calhoun, a Cincinnati graduate from the class of 2004, boasts a deep connection to the Bearcats and began his coaching journey as a student assistant under Bob Huggins. Since taking over Utah State in 2024, Calhoun has posted an impressive 52-14 record across two seasons, guiding the Aggies to a Mountain West Conference championship and back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. His reputation as a program builder is well-earned, having previously led Youngstown State to a Horizon League title and amassing close to 300 career victories.
“Calhoun is probably the odds-on favorite to get the job,” Heartland College Sports noted, emphasizing both his local roots and his proven track record. CBS Sports echoed this sentiment, calling Calhoun “the top target” for the Bearcats. Not only does Calhoun understand the culture and expectations in Cincinnati, but he’s also demonstrated an ability to win—and win quickly—at multiple stops. As one report put it, “He knows how to build programs. He has done it more than once. And Cincinnati is exactly the kind of challenge he is built for.”
Should Cincinnati be unable to lure Calhoun, attention could turn to Travis Steele, the current head coach at Miami (Ohio). Steele’s story is one of redemption and reinvention. After a middling four-year stint at Xavier, where he went 70-50, Steele has rebuilt his reputation with the RedHawks. This season, he guided Miami (Ohio) to an undefeated regular season and a Mid-American Conference regular-season title, though the RedHawks fell in the opening round of the MAC tournament to Massachusetts. Steele’s teams now play with more pace and emphasize perimeter shooting, reflecting his evolution as a coach. His experience in Cincinnati’s basketball scene and his recent success make him a compelling candidate if Calhoun proves unavailable.
Another rising name is Bryan Hodgson, who just wrapped up his first season at South Florida with a 23-8 record and an American Conference regular-season title. Hodgson, only 38, has quickly built a reputation as a strong recruiter and has shown the ability to turn programs around in short order. His up-tempo, pressure-oriented system, borrowed from mentor Nate Oats, has paid immediate dividends for the Bulls. While questions about his experience at the high-major level remain, Hodgson’s upside is hard to ignore. As Athlon Sports put it, “He has also handled the transfer portal well and built a reputation as a strong recruiter, which matters enormously in today’s college basketball landscape.”
The list of potential candidates doesn’t end there. Joe Gallo of Merrimack, who led his team to a MAAC regular-season title, and Eric Olen of New Mexico, who guided the Lobos to a No. 3 seed in the Mountain West Tournament, are both considered intriguing possibilities. John Groce at Akron, Scott Cross at Troy, and Ben Jacobson at Northern Iowa have also been mentioned, each bringing their own blend of experience and recent success. Groce, for instance, has high-major experience from his time at Illinois and has led Akron to sustained success. Cross, meanwhile, has won back-to-back Sun Belt championships with Troy, and Jacobson boasts nearly 400 career wins and six NCAA Tournament appearances with Northern Iowa.
As the Bearcats look to the future, the stakes are high. Cincinnati’s basketball program is steeped in tradition, and the move to the Big 12 has only heightened expectations. Whoever takes over will face the daunting task of restoring the Bearcats to national prominence in what many consider the toughest conference in college basketball. The challenge is significant, but so is the opportunity. As one source summed up, “Cincinnati is seeking a new head coach to elevate the program in a highly competitive conference.”
With the formal separation from Wes Miller set for April 1 and the coaching carousel in full swing, Bearcats fans are bracing for what promises to be an eventful few weeks. Whether it’s a homecoming for Jerrod Calhoun, a second chance for Travis Steele, or a bold leap with a rising star like Bryan Hodgson, the next hire will shape the program’s trajectory for years to come. For now, the search is on, and the basketball world is watching Cincinnati’s next move with keen anticipation.