5 Potential Head Coaches for the Longhorns if Rodney Terry is Let Go

If Rodney Terry is dismissed as Texas men’s basketball head coach, the Longhorns will need to find a new leader. With limited options available, the Horns may need to target a head coach from another team. Here are five strong candidates for the position.

Will Wade

Will Wade has only been with McNeese State for two seasons but has already led the team to two NCAA Tournament appearances, including a run to the Round of 32 this year. Although Wade recently agreed to become the next head coach at NC State, the Longhorns could potentially lure him to Texas with a lucrative offer.

Sean Miller

The same head coach who recently eliminated Terry and the Longhorns from the NCAA Tournament could be Texas’s next hire. Miller has been leading the Xavier Musketeers since 2022, winning 68 percent of his games. Over the past three years, Miller has led Xavier to two NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet Sixteen finish in 2023.

Dana Altman

Dana Altman has built Oregon into a top-tier program, particularly excelling in March. Heading into the Big Ten Tournament, Oregon was the most successful team in the month of March since Altman took over in 2010. With his extensive experience at Oregon and Creighton, Altman has the credentials to take on a major program like Texas, and he is a respected figure in the coaching world.

T.J. Otzelberger

T.J. Otzelberger earned national recognition this season after guiding the Iowa State Cyclones to a 24-9 record and a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Otzelberger, who previously coached at South Dakota State and UNLV, took over Iowa State in 2021. He has won over 68 percent of his games over the past four years and has led the Cyclones to four consecutive NCAA appearances, including two Sweet Sixteen berths.

Rick Pitino

While Rick Pitino’s career has been overshadowed by scandals, he has consistently bounced back to the top. From his stints at Hawai’i, Syracuse, the Boston Celtics, the New York Knicks, and Louisville, Pitino is a proven coach. Now at St. John’s, Pitino has led the Red Storm to a 50-17 record since 2023 and a No. 2 seed in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. With two National Championships, seven Final Four appearances, and a 2013 induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Pitino’s track record speaks for itself, despite his controversial past.