ASU Hires Randy Bennett; Cincinnati Selects Jerrod Calhoun, Reports Confirm

Bassyonni

Published: March 24, 2026 6:04 AM ET

ASU Hires Randy Bennett; Cincinnati Selects Jerrod Calhoun, Reports Confirm

The Big 12 Conference is set to welcome several new head coaches for the upcoming season. Arizona State University (ASU) has officially announced the hiring of Randy Bennett from Saint Mary’s College. Meanwhile, the University of Cincinnati has confirmed the selection of Jerrod Calhoun from Utah State University.

New Coaching Hires in the Big 12

This transition comes as the Big 12 prepares for the 2026-27 season, with notable changes in coaching staff. ASU and Cincinnati are not the only programs making adjustments; Kansas State has also appointed Casey Alexander, who previously coached at Belmont.

Randy Bennett’s Successful Career

Randy Bennett has an impressive record of 589 wins and 228 losses over 25 seasons at Saint Mary’s.
He led the Gaels to 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, with five consecutive berths to the tournament.
His final season featured an exhibition game against Arizona, where the Wildcats secured an 81-68 victory.

Bennett, a Mesa native, takes over ASU’s program after Bobby Hurley, who compiled a record of 185 wins against 167 losses. Although Hurley had significant accomplishments, including three NCAA tournament appearances, his rivalry against Arizona was challenging, with only four victories out of 23 matchups.

Jerrod Calhoun’s Path to Cincinnati

Jerrod Calhoun is returning to his roots, having graduated from Cincinnati in 2004.
He has a career record of 297 wins and 159 losses, having coached at Fairmont State, Youngstown State, and most recently, Utah State.
Under Calhoun, Utah State made NCAA Tournament appearances in both of his seasons at the helm.

During his tenure at Utah State, Calhoun made headlines by leading the Aggies to a historic win against Villanova in the NCAA Tournament, marking the program’s third victory in tournament history.

Looking Ahead

As ASU and Cincinnati make these significant coaching changes, both programs aim to enhance their competitiveness in the Big 12. The addition of experienced coaches like Bennett and Calhoun is expected to bring renewed energy and ambition to their respective teams in the upcoming season.