Report: Cincinnati set to hire Utah State's Jerrod Calhoun
The University of Cincinnati is turning the page on its men’s basketball program, moving quickly after parting ways with Wes Miller and zeroing in on a familiar face to lead the next era.
Athletic director John Cunningham confirmed last week that Miller would not return after five seasons at the helm. The two sides reached a separation agreement effective immediately, closing the book on a tenure that produced a 100–75 record but no NCAA Tournament appearances. In a statement, Cunningham thanked Miller for his energy and commitment while signaling optimism about the program’s future direction.
That future now appears set to be guided by Jerrod Calhoun, who has emerged as Cincinnati’s top choice and is expected to take over the Bearcats. The hire represents a homecoming for Calhoun, an Ohio native who graduated from Cincinnati in 2004 and began his coaching journey as a student assistant under Hall of Famer Bob Huggins.
Calhoun arrives after a highly successful two-year stint at Utah State Aggies men's basketball, where he compiled a 55–15 record and led the program to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. This season included a first-round victory over Villanova before falling to top-seeded Arizona Wildcats in the second round. His teams have been particularly potent on offense, consistently ranking among the most efficient units in the country.
Before his time at Utah State, Calhoun built a steady résumé with stops at Fairmont State—where he posted a remarkable 124–38 record—and Youngstown State, leading the Penguins to multiple 20-win seasons and a conference title. He also spent several years on Huggins’ staff at West Virginia, further strengthening his ties to high-level college basketball in the region.
Cincinnati’s leadership is expected to heavily invest in the program’s future, with NIL resources projected to exceed $10 million annually—an indication of the school’s intent to compete at a national level again. The expectation is that Calhoun can restore the Bearcats to consistent NCAA Tournament contention, something the program hasn’t achieved since the back-to-back appearances under Mick Cronin in 2018 and 2019.
Meanwhile, Miller is already moving on, having accepted a new opportunity at Charlotte, bringing a swift transition for both coach and program.
With deep Cincinnati roots, a track record of winning, and strong offensive systems, Calhoun’s arrival signals both a return to familiarity and a push toward renewed relevance for Bearcats basketball.