As college basketball continues to change, how long will the game’s old guard of coaches press on?
October 30, 2025
The landscape of college basketball is changing rapidly with name, image and likeness deals and the transfer portal reshaping teams yearly. Despite this, a group of veteran coaches like Rick Pitino, Rick Barnes and Tom Izzo continue to provide stability. These coaches have been pillars of the game for decades, but their tenure may be nearing its end. Many are in their seventies and facing the pressures of modern college basketball. Some, like Jay Wright and Tony Bennett, have already retired. Yet, the old guard remains influential, with teams like Houston and Tennessee ranked highly in preseason polls.