Head coach Jerrod Calhoun leaves Utah State for Cincinnati vacancy

Mar 22, 2026; San Diego, CA, USA; Utah State Aggies head coach Jerrod Calhoun reacts in the first half against the Arizona Wildcats during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images A story all too familiar in Logan. After spending two years leading the Utah State basketball program, Jerrod Calhoun has now accepted the head coaching position at Cincinnati – his alma mater.

When the Bearcats fired Wes Miller, Calhoun’s name was at the top of many lists considering his immediate success at Utah State and his innovative offensive basketball mind. According to Matt Norlander of CBS Sports, “Calhoun’s camp communicated with Cincinnati athletic director John Cunningham in the past week that he was ready to make the move and head back to Ohio. ” Norlander also highlighted that Kansas State prioritized Calhoun on its target list, but he rebuffed their interest, with the Cincinnati gig in mind.

Calhoun is among many recent coaches to pit stop in Logan for a brief time before moving on to “better” opportunities. Here’s a quick timeline refresher: Craig Smith from 2018-2021 – Three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances before leaving for the University of Utah. Ryan Odom from 2021-2023 – Served as head coach for two years before departing for VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University).

Danny Sprinkle from 2023-2024 – Spent just one year at Utah State, leading the Aggies to the Round of 32 before jumping ship and joining the Washington Huskies. And now, Jerrod Calhoun will join that list. While not 100% confirmed, it is speculated that he will be able to operate with a roster budget of more than $10 million.