NextLevel Update (1-21-25)

Below, you’ll find updates on a few of our standout coaches and their programs, showcasing their incredible success and momentum.

In addition to these coaching highlights, two members of our NextLevel family have excelled in broadcasting this season:

Josh Pastner continues to shine in his second year as a studio and game analyst for ESPN, Peacock, Turner, and the Big Ten Network.

Jerod Haase has seen immediate success in his first season as an ESPN game analyst, already earning opportunities to work on national broadcasts.

Be sure to check out our full client list to see all of the talented NextLevel coaches leading their teams to new heights.

Dennis Gates, Head Coach, Missouri
Coach Gates' 15-3 Tigers kept their momentum rolling with a huge week in SEC play, including an 83-82 road win at #5 Florida and an 83-65 home victory against Arkansas. Their 4-1 SEC start is the best in program history, and they are currently tied for 2nd in the SEC standings, and have just entered the Top 25 for the first time this season at #22 (AP) and #24 (USA Today).

The win in Gainesville marked the first time Mizzou has defeated a top-5 team on the road since 2012. Including their earlier victory over #1 Kansas, the Tigers are now one of only two teams to hold two wins over top-5 opponents this season.

Saturday night’s win over the Razorbacks, in front of a sold-out Mizzou Arena, marked the Tigers' fourth consecutive victory and improved their perfect home record to 14-0 on the season.

Missouri has climbed to #23 in the NET rankings and #28 in KenPom, with the 18th-best adjusted offensive efficiency in the country at 119.6. The Tigers are currently 15th in the country in scoring offense at 84.8 ppg.

Other clients on Mizzou staff: Associate Head Coach Charlton Young and Assistant Coach Kyle Smithpeters.

Grant McCasland, Head Coach, Texas Tech

Coach McCasland and the Red Raiders had a successful week, finishing 2-0 in Big 12 play. They secured a 61-57 road victory at Kansas State and a dominant 70-54 home win against Arizona, handing the Wildcats their first Big 12 loss. Texas Tech is now 13-4 overall and 4-2 in the Big 12, tied for 3rd place in the conference standing.

The newly ranked #25 (USA Today) Red Raiders currently rank 10th in the country in field goal percentage (49.6%) and 9th in scoring margin (+17). According to KenPom, they are 10th in adjusted offensive efficiency (121.8) and 10th in effective field goal percentage (57.1%).

Texas Tech is also ranked 12th in KenPom, 13th in Bart Torvik, and 15th in the NCAA NET rankings.

Other clients on Texas Tech staff: Assistant Coach Matt Brauer

Mike Rhoades, Head Coach, Penn State

Off to a great start, the Nittany Lions and Coach Rhoades are currently 13-6 overall (3-5 in Big Ten play). Despite battling the injury bug early in conference play and facing three consecutive Top 15 opponents, Penn State bounced back with an impressive 80-72 home win over Rutgers on Sunday night, improving their home record to an outstanding 10-1.

The Nittany Lions boast a NET ranking of 47 and a KenPom ranking of 48, while excelling nationally in key statistical areas. They rank in the Top 20 in both points per game (84.4) and turnovers forced per game (16.06).

Penn State finished non-conference play with a 10-1 record, marking just the sixth time since joining the Big Ten in 1992-93 that the Nittany Lions have finished regular-season non-conference action with one or fewer losses. Their Big Ten-opening win over #8 Purdue was Penn State's first victory against a Top 10 AP-ranked team since December 2019.

Brian Wardle, Head Coach, Bradley

Coach Brian Wardle and the Bradley Braves had an outstanding week, highlighted by a record-setting 118-65 victory over Indiana State and a crucial 74-61 road win at Murray State. Bradley currently boasts a 16-3 overall record and sits in 1st place in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) with a 7-1 start, the second-best start in program history.

The Braves are ranked 5th in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Rankings and even received a vote in this week’s AP Top 25 poll. Nationally, they are ranked 65th in the NET and 81st in KenPom. Their balanced approach has placed them in the Top 100 for both offensive (81st) and defensive (86th) adjusted efficiency.

Bradley has made a significant impact on the national statistical leaderboard, ranking 19th in field goal percentage, 30th in defensive field goal percentage, 29th in free throw percentage, 24th in scoring margin, 2nd in three-point percentage, 13th in three-point percentage defense, 13th in three-pointers made per game, and 10th in winning percentage.

Under Coach Wardle's leadership, Bradley has qualified for two NCAA Tournaments and two NIT appearances, while also securing an MVC Regular Season Championship and two MVC Tournament Championships. His continued success has solidified the Braves as a premier program in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Ross Hodge, Head Coach, North Texas

In his second year at the helm, Coach Ross Hodge has the North Texas Mean Green tied for 1st place in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) with a 4-1 record and a 13-4 overall mark. This week, the Mean Green picked up two impressive road victories, defeating East Carolina 69-60 and UTSA 72-57. Coach Hodge also reached a personal milestone, earning his 31st win in 50 games as UNT's head coach—the second-most wins in a coach’s first 50 games in program history.

The Mean Green are ranked 15th in the Mid-Major Poll and hold strong national rankings, including #58 in KenPom and #52 in the NCAA NET. They rank 4th in the country in scoring defense, 46th in steals per game, and 41st in three-point shooting percentage. In KenPom metrics, they are among the top teams nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency (41st), adjusted offensive efficiency (91st), defensive turnover percentage (18th), offensive rebound percentage (31st), and steal percentage (13th).

As the former top lieutenant to Texas Tech Head Coach Grant McCasland, Hodge has built his program on a foundation of defensive intensity and discipline. His teams have drawn comparisons to the style of Tony Bennett’s Virginia squads and Kelvin Sampson’s Houston teams. With Hodge at the helm, North Texas continues to cement its reputation as one of the premier programs in the AAC.

Daniyal Robinson, Head Coach, Cleveland State

Coach Daniyal Robinson's Cleveland State Vikings are one of the hottest teams in the country, riding a 10-game winning streak—the third-longest active streak in college basketball. Picked to finish 7th in the Horizon League Pre-Season Poll, the Vikings have exceeded all expectations with a 14-6 overall record and an 8-1 mark in league play, placing them atop the Horizon League standings.

This past week, the Vikings continued their dominant run with a 76-58 home victory over Northern Kentucky and a 73-62 road win at IUPUI.

Defensively, Cleveland State has been exceptional. The Vikings allow just 65.4 points per game, ranking 39th nationally. They average 9.7 steals per game, which ranks 16th, and force 6.8 turnovers per game, placing them 8th in the country. Additionally, they rank 11th nationally with a +6 turnover margin, showcasing their ability to capitalize on opponents' mistakes.

In his third season, Coach Robinson has already made history, becoming the only Cleveland State head coach to win 20 or more games in each of his first two seasons. In December, he became the fastest coach in program history to reach 50 head coaching wins. Under his leadership, the Vikings have cemented their position as a Horizon League powerhouse.

David Richman, Head Coach, North Dakota State

NDSU Head Coach David Richman, a proven winner with three NCAA Tournament appearances under his belt, has the Bison on a similar trajectory this season. North Dakota State currently sits in 2nd place in the Summit League with a 4-2 conference record and an impressive 15-6 overall record.

The Bison have won 12 of their last 14 games and climbed into the top 100 of the KenPom rankings. Offensively, they have been dominant, scoring 100 or more points in three games this season. In KenPom metrics, they rank 30th in adjusted offensive efficiency (117.1) and 1st in effective field goal percentage. Nationally, the Bison are 36th in turnover-to-assist ratio, 34th in field goal percentage, 45th in free throw percentage, 31st in scoring offense, 3rd in three-point percentage, and 2nd in three-pointers made per game.

Coach Richman’s team has established itself as an offensive powerhouse, making the Bison a strong contender in the Summit League.

Jeff Boals, Head Coach, Ohio

After an injury-plagued early season that led to a 2-6 start, Coach Jeff Boals and the Ohio Bobcats have turned their season around, winning 8 of their last 10 games. They now sit in 2nd place in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) with a 4-1 conference record and a 10-7 overall mark.

Known for their exciting style of play, Ohio is currently ranked 12th in the nation in fast break points (16.1 per game) and 49th in scoring offense, averaging an impressive 81.1 points per game.

Rob Ehsan, Head Coach, UIC

In his first year at the helm, Coach Rob Ehsan and the UIC Flames have emerged as one of the biggest surprises in college basketball this season. Picked to finish last in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC), UIC has defied expectations with a 12-6 overall record and a 5-3 mark in MVC play. The Flames have already matched their overall win total from each of the past two seasons and surpassed their conference win total in those initial two campaigns as an MVC member (4 wins in both 2022–23 and 2023–24).

UIC has won 8 of their last 10 games, including key victories over Drake and Murray State. This past week, the Flames secured a thrilling double-overtime 97-93 win against Murray State and an 81-74 road win at Valparaiso. They also narrowly fell by just 1 point to conference leader Bradley in a hard-fought game. UIC ranks 45th in the country with 16.5 assists per game and 36th in rebound margin at 6.

With their impressive turnaround and sub-150 KenPom ranking, the Flames are proving to be a formidable force in the MVC under Coach Ehsan's leadership.

Jordan Mincy, Head Coach, Jacksonville

Under Coach Jordan Mincy's leadership, the Jacksonville Dolphins have won five straight games and are tied for first place in the ASUN Conference with a 5-1 record (11-7 overall). This past week, the Dolphins protected their home court with a 64-60 victory over North Alabama and a 72-62 win over Central Arkansas.

The Dolphins are currently ranked 164th in KenPom, with standout metrics including 83rd in adjusted defensive efficiency, 58th in defensive turnover percentage, 44th in offensive rebounding percentage, 14th in block percentage, and 38th in steal percentage. In traditional statistics, Jacksonville ranks 37th in the nation in blocks per game

Griff Aldrich, Head Coach, Longwood
The Lancers, under the leadership of Coach Griff Aldrich, have won three of their last four games, including a thrilling 82-80 victory over then-Big South leader High Point. Longwood currently holds a 14-6 overall record and a 3-2 mark in Big South play, placing them 3rd in the conference standings.

The Lancers currently rank 35th in the country in turnovers forced and 40th in turnover margin, Coach Aldrich has previously guided Longwood to NCAA Tournament appearances in 2022 and 2024, continuing to build the program's success and national profile.

Kelsi Musick, Head Women’s Coach, Oral Roberts

In her third year at Oral Roberts, Coach Kelsi Musick continues to transform the program in Tulsa. The Golden Eagles are currently 14-5 overall and 4-2 in the Summit League. This past week, ORU earned a hard-fought 71-68 home victory over St. Thomas and followed it up with a 79-72 road win at Denver.

The Golden Eagles are ranked #101 in the NCAA NET rankings and #118 in the Bart Torvik rankings. Their exciting style of play has led to impressive offensive metrics, including a 73rd-ranked adjusted offensive efficiency of 102.6. Nationally, ORU ranks 46th in field goal percentage (45.7%) and 17th in scoring, averaging 81.2 points per game.

In December, Coach Musick achieved a career milestone with her 300th head coaching win, a total that includes her success at both Oral Roberts and Southwestern Oklahoma State.

The Golden Eagles made a strong impression during nonconference play with significant wins over Tulsa (67-56), Arkansas (94-73), Missouri (76-63), and Wichita State (77-65). Under Coach Musick’s leadership, Oral Roberts is firmly establishing itself as a rising force in women's college basketball.

Jason Burton, Head Women’s Coach, North Texas

Coach Jason Burton and the North Texas Mean Green are on a roll, securing two home victories this past week—a 61-53 win over Rice and a dominant 80-58 victory over Wichita State. In his first season in Denton, Coach Burton led North Texas to its winningest season ever, its first conference title since 1986, and an appearance in the inaugural WBIT.

Now in his second season, Coach Burton has the Mean Green back on the winning track with a 14-5 overall record and a 6-1 mark in the AAC, good for 2nd place. The team has won 7 of its last 8 games and continues to build momentum.

Their nonconference schedule included a notable victory over Houston from the Big 12, further solidifying their strong season under Coach Burton's leadership. North Texas is proving to be a contender in the AAC once again.

NextLevel Assistant Coaches in this week’s Top 25

#5 Florida                        Carlin Hartman (Associate Head Coach) & Kevin Hovde (Assistant Coach)

#9 Kentucky                    Alvin Brooks (Associate Head Coach) & Cody Fueger (Assistant Coach)

#10 Marquette                 DeAndre Haynes (Assistant Coach)

#21 Michigan                  Akeem Miskdeen (Assistant Coach) & Drew Williamson (Assistant Coach)

#18 Georgia Tech (W)    Blanche Alverson (Associate Head Coach)