Chris Mack Named USF Bulls Men’s Basketball Head Coach Officially Now
The University of South Florida (USF) has named Chris Mack as the 13th head coach of the Bulls men’s basketball team. The 2016 National Coach of the Year has come to Tampa after securing a pair of 20-win seasons with the College of Charleston.
As head coach, Mack has led teams such as Xavier (2009-2018), Louisville (2018-2022), and Charleston (2024-2026) to nine NCAA Tournament berths, including four Sweet 16 appearances and one Elite Eight, with a 323-152 (.679) career record across 15 seasons.
USF Names 2016 National Coach of the Year, Chris Mack, as Head Coach of the Men’s Basketball Team
USF CEO of Athletics Rob Higgins said in a statement that the Bull Basketball has found an “outstanding coach” to elevate the team to the next level.
“He (Mack) brings elite experience in roster building through the portal and transforming programs in a short time frame. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Chris and his family to Bulls Nation.”
Mack posted 259 victories in his first 11 seasons, marking the 12th most amassed by any head coach in that time frame. As a player, assistant coach, and head coach, he has been a part of 19 NCAA Tournament appearances.
In the 2018-19 season, he led Louisville to a 20-14 record while facing the fourth-toughest schedule and a No.7 seed in the NCAA tournament. The following season, the Cardinals registered 27 wins and 4 losses – their best record through 31 games in six years. They were ranked among the top 15 college basketball teams throughout the season and achieved No.1 in both the Associated Press and USA Today polls, while securing a No.1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
However, the 2021-22 season was a tough call for Mack. He was suspended for the first six games for not following university guidelines and procedures after a fired assistant threatened to reveal alleged NCAA violations. But when he returned, the team’s performance did not improve, registering a 6-8 record, which led the university to agree to a $4.8 million contract buyout.
Between 2013 and 2018, Mack led Xavier to a 215-97 record and eight NCAA Tournament appearances, reaching the Sweet 16 on four occasions – 2010, 2012, 2015, and 2017 – and the Elite Eight in 2017. He was named the Henry Iba Award winner in 2016 as the national coach of the year selected by the United States Basketball Writers Association.
The 56-year-old has twice been named conference coach of the year, even earning the 2018 Big East Coach of the Year and 2011 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year honors. He has also led teams to three conference regular-season championships. Mack is one of just 19 head coaches in college basketball history to lead their team to a No.1 ranking within the first two years. He was also named the winner of the 2011 Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award, which is given to an NCAA Division I men’s basketball head coach who not only achieves success on the court but also displays moral integrity off the court.
Mack Takes Over from Bryan Hodgson, who led USF to an NCAA Tournament Berth this Season
“I am truly excited for the opportunity to lead a South Florida basketball program that’s on an exceptional trajectory and to join a university and athletic department defined by strong leadership, shared aspirations, and tremendous alignment,” Mack said.
His predecessor at USF, Bryan Hodgson, led the men’s team to a 25-9 record, American Conference regular season and tournament titles, and an NCAA Tournament berth this season. Hodgson left his position three days after the Bulls’ first-round loss to Louisville last Thursday and is now coaching at Providence College.
Mack will start his USF journey after two seasons leading the College of Charleston. In his first season there, he guided the Cougars to a 24-9 record and a 13-5 mark in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA). He followed that performance with a 21-11 mark, with 14-4 in CAA, and a second-place conference finish in 2025-26.
Chris Mack’s appointment came one day after USF announced former Alabama coach Kristy Curry as head coach for its women’s basketball team. Michele Woods-Baxter was serving as the program’s interim coach this season after Jose Fernandez left the post in October 2025 to lead the WNBA team Dallas Wings.
