Bearcats Beat: Rave Reviews For Jerrod Calhoun As Bearcats Get Their Man To Come Home To UC

CINCINNATI —- Will Jerrod Calhoun be the answer? Everyone associated with the Bearcats’ men’s basketball program certainly hope so.

Ohio native and University of Cincinnati graduate Jerrod Calhoun was officially named the 29th head coach in Cincinnati men’s basketball history, director of athletics John Cunningham announced Tuesday. Calhoun recently completed his ninth season as a Division I head coach – and 14th overall – leading Utah State to a 29-7 record and its second NCAA Tournament in his two seasons at the helm of the Aggies.

Now the challenge is to end a seven-year NCAA tournament drought and return the Bearcats to what they believe is their rightful place in March. Two years of John Brannen and five more of Wes Miller failed to yield a single berth in March Madness.

Now, it’s up to Calhoun to lead his old school back to the Dance, and hopefully beyond. He brings a resume with him that certainly suggests he’s more than capable.

The 2026 Mountain West Conference and 2023 Horizon League Coach of the Year has nine 20-win seasons as a head coach and has been a conference champion in three different leagues on his way to a 297-159 career record.

How big a deal is this for the success-starved school in Clifton? A press conference will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Fifth Third Arena and the event is open to the public, and the doors will open at noon.

The cost? Calhoun’s deal is a six-year contract, pending board approval. It will pay him $3.7 million in the first year with an annual raise of $100,000, the school confirmed in a press release Tuesday.

“Jerrod is a tireless worker, has an incredible passion and talent for developing not just players, but people, and has won at every stop along the way,” Cunningham said. “He’s one of the best offensive minds in college basketball and has the pedigree to take Cincinnati basketball to the next level in the Big 12 and nationally. I’m looking forward to welcoming his wife, Sarah, and children, Jordan, Kennedy, Kendall and Quinn to the Cincinnati family.”

While those comments are nice, Bearcats fans should be more encouraged by what the people in the business who have worked with him are saying about UC’s hire.

• Bob Huggins – University of Cincinnati Former Head Basketball Coach (1989-2005), Basketball Hall of Famer

“Jerrod Calhoun is one of the top young coaches in college basketball and a great fit for the University of Cincinnati. He started with me as a student assistant with the Bearcats and later worked on my staff at West Virginia, where he helped us reach the Final Four. He’s earned everything he’s gotten. Jerrod works, he connects with people and he knows how to build a program. I’ve enjoyed watching his growth over the years and I’m proud of what he’s accomplished. Cincinnati is getting a great coach.”

• Joe Mazzulla – Boston Celtics Head Coach

“Jerrod Calhoun has had a huge impact on my coaching career. His energy, passion and ability to connect with players are elite. He develops student-athletes on and off the court and builds a culture that’s tough, accountable and built to win. He is committed to doing things the right way every single day. The University of Cincinnati is getting a dynamic leader who’s going to elevate the entire program from day one.”

• Mick Cronin – UCLA Head Coach

“I am super excited for Bearcats fans! Jerrod is a great coach. He’s in his prime, he’s innovative and smart, and, most importantly, he knows how to make a team into a winning program. This is great for the University of Cincinnati and I’m very happy for Jerrod as well.”

• Maverick Carter – Sports & Entertainment Executive

“I’ve known Jerrod since we were 11 years old and the only person that I’ve met that loves the game and is as committed to the game as much as him is LeBron, and it’s a tie.”

• Jim Tressel – State of Ohio Lieutenant Governor, Youngstown State University President Emeritus, Former Ohio State Head Football Coach

“I’m so excited for the UC Bearcats and the Calhoun family. Jerrod, Sarah and the entire staff will bring a special family atmosphere to the Bearcat Basketball Nation! Coach Calhoun’s leadership and masterful teaching of the game of basketball will be on full display. Get ready!”

• Mike Gansey – Cleveland Cavaliers General Manager

“I have known Jerrod since middle school when we played together, and even back then, you knew he was going to do something special as a head coach. It’s pretty impressive the trajectory he has been on winning at every level…Fairmont State, Youngstown State and Utah State. He pours his life into the game of basketball and has been a culture changers for the better everywhere he goes. I’m very excited for Jerrod and his family to be back in the state of Ohio. He will be a great addition to the community and fans of the University of Cincinnati.”

Those are downright giddy comments. Yes, every coach has a honeymoon period at the start but it certainly seems like the Bearcats got the guy there were targeting from the moment they reached a $3.1 million buyout with Wes Miller, who on Monday accepted a job with UNC Charlotte. Miller was 100-74 in his five years at UC, an average of 20 wins per season, but was only 41-51 in conference play.

By contrast, Calhoun went 55-15, including a 30-10 mark in Mountain West play, with a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances in his two seasons in Logan. His Aggies won the Mountain West regular-season and tournament championships in 2026. He has led five All-Mountain West selections in his two seasons, including 2026 Mountain West Player of the Year Mason Falslev. Calhoun’s Aggies rallied from 10 points down in the second half in the first round and beat Villanova, 86-76, before falling to No. 1 West seed Arizona on Sunday.

For the second-straight year, Utah State possessed one of the most efficient offenses in the country, ranking 20th in offensive efficiency a year ago, before improving to 26th this year. However, the Aggies saw a considerable improvement on the defensive end, going from 150th in 2024-25 to 44th in 2025-26. Utah State led the Mountain West and ranked in the top 30 nationally in turnover margin (11th, 3.6), field goal percentage (15th, 49.6), assists per game (17th, 17.6), assist-to-turnover ratio (17th, 1.69), scoring margin (22nd, 11.4) and steals per game (26th, 8.7). The Aggies also led the conference in fastbreak points (13.86) and scoring offense (82.1).

“It is a tremendous honor to have the opportunity to lead the Bearcats’ program – one that I know intimately as an alum and hold in the highest regard,” Calhoun said. “I am deeply grateful to John Cunningham and President Neville Pinto for their trust and confidence in me to elevate this program and guide our student-athletes as we pursue championships. Our goal is to build a program that consistently makes Bearcats fans proud, both on and off the court. Sarah, our children and I are excited to get to work at a place that means so much to our family.”

Prior to his time at Utah State, Calhoun spent seven seasons as the head coach at Youngstown State from 2017-24. He guided the Penguins to five-consecutive winning seasons for the first time in their Division I history and led Youngstown State to the postseason three times. He coached 12 All-Horizon League selections and led Youngstown State to consecutive 20-win seasons – the first time in program history – in his final two seasons. Calhoun’s 2023 Youngstown State team won the program’s first Horizon League regular-season championship and the Penguins’ 24 wins that season tied the school record for victories set in 1964.

Calhoun’s first stint as a head coach came at Division II Fairmont State from 2012-17, where he led the Fighting Falcons to a 124-38 (.765) record, garnering 2017 Mountain East Coach of the Year honors. His teams earned four appearances in the NCAA Division II Tournament, including a national runner-up finish in 2017, and won at least 20 games in each of his five seasons.

Calhoun spent five years on Bob Huggins’ staff at West Virginia from 2007-12, including four as director of operations and the final season as assistant coach. The Mountaineers went 120-36 with five NCAA Tournament appearances – including the 2010 Final Four and 2008 Sweet 16 – in his five seasons.

Prior to his time in West Virginia, Calhoun was an assistant coach at Walsh University from 2004-07, helping the Cavaliers to an 82-21 record, including the 2005 NAIA National Championship, an Elite Eight in 2006 and a Sweet 16 in 2007.

Calhoun, who is a 2004 graduate of the University of Cincinnati, began his coaching career as a student assistant under Huggins in 2003-04, when the Bearcats went 25-7 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Calhoun played two years of basketball at Cleveland State for head coach Rollie Massimino, earning Dean’s List honors and was a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Board.

He earned four letters at Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School in Cleveland and averaged 19.0 points per game his senior year. He graduated as the school record-holder for free-throw percentage and was tabbed Lake County News Herald Player of the Year.

Calhoun earned his bachelor’s degree from Cincinnati, majoring in criminal justice and minoring in communications. He is married to the former Sarah McKenna and has a son, Jordan, and three daughters, Kennedy, Kendall and Quinn.

The new era of Cincinnati men’s basketball tips off in November at Fifth Third Arena and the athletic department is already trying to capitalize on the Calhoun hire. New season ticket holders can place a deposit HERE and returning season ticket holders can renew HERE.