Welcome Coach Tony Skinn!

[Pablo]

MSN

"The men’s college basketball coaching carousel never stops spinning, with four job openings in September alone thanks to some early fall chaos. That could be an early sign of an active cycle to come next spring, and some of the top jobs may open via firing or retirement. Who are some of the top names to watch that could be next in line to fill high-major openings? Sports Illustrated has you covered with insights on coaches who could pop up as prime candidates next spring.

Josh Schertz, Saint Louis​

The darling of the 2024 carousel after a 32-win season at Indiana State, Schertz could easily be a top target yet again this spring if his Billikens take a step forward in his second year there. Regarded as one of the sharpest offensive minds in the sport, Schertz has built a very talented roster featuring bespectacled sensation Robbie Avila and a number of highly regarded transfers. After seeing the consistent improvement over his three years at Indiana State, it’s easy to bet on a Year 2 jump for Schertz and the Billikens. If he can get Saint Louis to the NCAA tournament, some of the biggest jobs could come calling.

Drew Valentine, Loyola Chicago ​

Valentine is entering Year 5 as Loyola’s head coach but is just 34 years old after taking over for Porter Moser weeks before his 30th birthday. He has maintained the success the Ramblers had under Moser despite a move up from the Missouri Valley to the Atlantic 10, winning a combined 48 games over the last two seasons and taking Loyola to the NIT semifinals in 2024–25. He has another strong roster on paper this season anchored by star center Miles Rubin, who decided to stay with Valentine in Chicago despite considerable interest from high-major programs. The brother of former Michigan State All-American Denzel Valentine and son of another Spartan player Carlton Valentine, Drew has regularly been brought up as a successor to Tom Izzo if and when Izzo elects to retire. That won’t stop other top programs from inquiring though if Valentine’s success continues.

Tony Skinn, George Mason​

Skinn has done an outstanding job in his first two seasons at his alma mater, reestablishing the program’s elite defensive culture that started when he was a player on George Mason’s 2006 Final Four team. Skinn gets his players to play incredibly hard, and Mason overachieved based on its talent level pretty substantially a year ago en route to a 27-win campaign and a trip to the A-10 title game. Skinn will have a new-look roster in 2025–26, but talent-wise the Patriots have enough to stay in the top tier of the A-10. If that happens, he should get plenty of attention from across the high-major ranks, especially considering how down the Mason program had been in the decade after Jim Larrañaga’s departure."

 

[DRK331]

Tony Skinn and Brayden O'Connor interviews at A10 media day

 

[DRK331]

Tony Skinn talks about being the GMU head coach:

https://x.com/jakerohm/status/1980320922344255963

 

[psyclone]

ESPN.com article on mid-Major coaches next in line to move up:

"In other words, a new crop of mid-major coaches will need to emerge in the spring. ....
....
Also in that top tier or two of guys who could make the jump:

• Takayo Siddle, UNC Wilmington: Guided the Seahawks to the NCAA tournament last season and has finished in the top three of the CAA in four straight seasons, including a regular-season title in 2022.
• Drew Valentine, Loyola Chicago: Still only 34 years old, Valentine went to the NCAA tournament in 2022 and split the Atlantic-10 regular-season title in 2024.
• Bob Richey, Furman: Has an NCAA tournament win under his belt when the Paladins beat Virginia in 2023, and has won 22 or more games in six of eight seasons.
• Tony Skinn, George Mason: Won a share of the A-10 regular-season title in just his second year as a head coach, and is now 47-21 in his two seasons.
• Preston Spradlin, James Madison: Has now won at least 20 games in five straight seasons, going to two NCAA tournaments and winning two regular-season titles at Morehead State, before winning a share of the Sun Belt title last season at JMU.
• Josh Schertz, Saint Louis: He was one of the hottest names in the country 18 months ago after winning 32 games at Indiana State and could easily generate momentum again."

2025-26 men's NCAA basketball coaching hot seat, retirement guide

From Hubert Davis' seat at UNC to Bill Self retirement watch at Kansas to future top candidates, these are the coaching storylines to watch.

www.espn.com

 

[GM Logo Guy]

ESPN.com article on mid-Major coaches next in line to move up:

"In other words, a new crop of mid-major coaches will need to emerge in the spring. ....
....
Also in that top tier or two of guys who could make the jump:

• Takayo Siddle, UNC Wilmington: Guided the Seahawks to the NCAA tournament last season and has finished in the top three of the CAA in four straight seasons, including a regular-season title in 2022.
• Drew Valentine, Loyola Chicago: Still only 34 years old, Valentine went to the NCAA tournament in 2022 and split the Atlantic-10 regular-season title in 2024.
• Bob Richey, Furman: Has an NCAA tournament win under his belt when the Paladins beat Virginia in 2023, and has won 22 or more games in six of eight seasons.
• Tony Skinn, George Mason: Won a share of the A-10 regular-season title in just his second year as a head coach, and is now 47-21 in his two seasons.
• Preston Spradlin, James Madison: Has now won at least 20 games in five straight seasons, going to two NCAA tournaments and winning two regular-season titles at Morehead State, before winning a share of the Sun Belt title last season at JMU.
• Josh Schertz, Saint Louis: He was one of the hottest names in the country 18 months ago after winning 32 games at Indiana State and could easily generate momentum again."

2025-26 men's NCAA basketball coaching hot seat, retirement guide

From Hubert Davis' seat at UNC to Bill Self retirement watch at Kansas to future top candidates, these are the coaching storylines to watch.

www.espn.com

CTS is bound to get calls from P4s, but I hope he sees the upside of what he already has: around $1.7 million a year at his alma mater, close to family, strong support, and room to grow without constant pressure. Unless it’s one of the elite jobs, a P4 move might only mean a modest pay bump and a lot more stress. He’s got a real chance to make Mason the Gonzaga of the East.

 

[jessej]

CTS is bound to get calls from P4s, but I hope he sees the upside of what he already has: around $1.7 million a year at his alma mater, close to family, strong support, and room to grow without constant pressure. Unless it’s one of the elite jobs, a P4 move might only mean a modest pay bump and a lot more stress. He’s got a real chance to make Mason the Gonzaga of the East.

Duke, Carolina, Kentucky, UCLA, Houston, Gonzaga will not be calling CTS in the next year or 2. But a bottom of the barrel P4 team just might. With that he gets an extra 1/2 million+ in starting salary and a whole lot of challenges, pressures and problems.

Is his tree and network strong enough to support a move to the West Coach, or even South?
Who on this current roster could be a P4 starter that he would take with him?
Recruiting higher skilled players?
NIL?
Satisfying multiple key boosters?
Pressures to win - quickly?

Theoretically, I could see him leaving for Dayton or vcu. I don't see him leaving for a position in any other conference that is not P4 or Big East.

 

[GunstonsGhost]

Theoretically, I could see him leaving for vcu.

That would be crushing and I'd hold you personally responsible for manifesting such blasphemy into the world.

 

[jessej]

That would be crushing and I'd hold you personally responsible for manifesting such blasphemy into the world.

theoretically speaking!!!!

 

[GMUgemini]

I think it’s also important to note that there are built-in base salary increases to Skinn’s contract extension and he is set to earn $2.1 million in the final year of the new contract.

This to help thinking about the kinds of programs CTS might leave us for.

 

[GM Logo Guy]

Duke, Carolina, Kentucky, UCLA, Houston, Gonzaga will not be calling CTS in the next year or 2. But a bottom of the barrel P4 team just might. With that he gets an extra 1/2 million+ in starting salary and a whole lot of challenges, pressures and problems.

Is his tree and network strong enough to support a move to the West Coach, or even South?
Who on this current roster could be a P4 starter that he would take with him?
Recruiting higher skilled players?
NIL?
Satisfying multiple key boosters?
Pressures to win - quickly?

Theoretically, I could see him leaving for Dayton or vcu. I don't see him leaving for a position in any other conference that is not P4 or Big East.

Zero chance he goes to vcu or Dayton, are you trolling?

Realistic openings next season:
Pitt, Rutgers, Syracuse

 

[Verdad]

We can always speculate, but the reality is he will need to feel supported and compensated and be given access to resources to be a perennial NCAAT program - that is what will keep him.

Doesn't really matter what his salary is now - he got a raise to stay. He'll hopefully be due another raise in March after we make the NCAAT.

 

[Mason2006Patriot]

Why would Tony leave Mason? This is his alma mater.

 

[Patriotsince81]

The George Mason Basketball Coach’s Show Premieres Oct. 28 in Fairfax - George Mason University Athletics

The George Mason Basketball Coach's Show is back for another season of in-depth analysis and interviews with some of your favorite Patriot student-athletes!

gomason.com

 

[The Great PATSby]

Why would Tony leave Mason? This is his alma mater.

If you doubled my salary, I would wear a vcu shirt 365 Days a year.

 

[GMUgemini]

If you doubled my salary, I would wear a vcu shirt 365 Days a year.

vcu ain’t paying any coach 4 million a year.

 

[gmujim92]

Georgetown and Maryland were the two big obvious threats and thankfully neither seems likely to be open again any time soon.

But if a BE school like Syracuse came calling, with their history and resources, that would be tough to pass up.

Tony is a terrific coach and he’ll be gone soon enough so let’s enjoy him while he’s here.

 

[The Great PATSby]

vcu ain’t paying any coach 4 million a year.

Duh. I was saying I'd rock with the college I hate the most if the money is right.

 

[mkaufman1]

I fully expect Tony to be at Mason for 40 years, and then retire to the Del Boca Vista

 

[DRK331]

Brayden O'Connor and Tony Skinn interviews back from A10 media day

 

[Patriotsince81]

"We're healthy"????????? Fatt Hill???????
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWnCrEKSPBA