For the fifth time in as many seasons, the South Florida Bulls will have a new basketball coach for the 2026-27 season.
After one season in Tampa, Bryan Hodgson has accepted a five-year deal to become the new head coach at Providence.
In his only season in Tampa, Hodgson gave USF the most successful season in program history. South Florida tied the program record with a 25-8 record. USF also won the American Conference regular-season title and the conference tournament championship. Hodgson also led the Bulls back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012.
Hodgson was named head coach at USF in March of 2025 after two consecutive 20-win seasons at Arkansas State. Hodgson molded 12 new players into a new championship team, fulfilling a promise he made to the university at his opening press conference.
Hodgson issued a written statement to South Florida after taking the job at Providence.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to lead South Florida Basketball,” Hodgson said. “Deciding to leave is not easy. This place, these people, and this program mean a great deal to me. My hope is that we left it better than we found it, that we delivered on the vision we shared, and laid a foundation that will continue to grow. South Florida will always hold a special place in our hearts.”
CEO of Athletics, Rob Higgins, will now have his work cut out for him, as he will be looking for the fifth basketball coach in five seasons.
2022-23 Brian Gregory-Fired
2023-24 Amir Abdur-Rahim-Passed Away
2024-2025 Ben Fletcher-Interim Coach
2025-26 Bryan Hodgson-Left for Providence
2026-27?
“I’ve seen the best facilities… they don’t have anything that USF doesn’t have.”
“It has everything you would want in a basketball program. This place is a dream come true.”
He called Tampa “a great city. Everything you would want in a basketball program.”
The three quotes above are from the press conference USF held to introduce Bryan Hodgson as the head basketball coach. What changed?
Numerous times throughout the season, Hodgson talked about how great the administration was and how he had every resource available to him to create a successful program. What was so enticing about Providence?
Could it be that there is no football program at Providence, and the majority of money is spent on basketball? At Providence, basketball is the only game in town. The spotlight does not have to be shared with football.
Hodgson earned $1.25 million this season in Tampa.
His predecessor, Kim English, was in the middle of a six-year deal at Providence, earning approximately $1.93 million per season. Hodgson will have to pay the university a $2 million buyout for leaving to take the Providence job.
At some point, this has to stop. USF cannot, nor should it be, the training ground and layover stop for coaches looking to move into a power conference.
The only way I see this stopping is to make it extremely painful for the coach who wishes to move on, in the form of a large buyout that would be reduced each year upon completion of the contract.
Rob Higgins needs to show urgency to get South Florida into a Power Four Conference. The Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and ACC have all been rumored to be fixated on conference expansion.
Rob Higgins? The ball is now in your court. “All gas, no brakes.”
Let’s make it happen.