Second-year Arkansas State coach Bryan Hodgson has emerged as a candidate in the search for the next UNLV men’s basketball coach, sources told the Review-Journal on Saturday.
The 37-year-old joined Arkansas State after spending the previous four seasons as an assistant at Alabama, where he gained a reputation as a top recruiter.
Hodgson wasn’t a name that appeared on any watch lists for the UNLV job in the week since fourth-year coach Kevin Kruger was fired, but sources said he has been in contact with the program as the process continues.
UNLV has interviewed around 25 candidates, ranging from top college talent to NBA and G League personnel, sources said.
Former Memphis and Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner and Florida assistant coach Carlin Hartman are two other names who are confirmed to have expressed interest in the UNLV job.
Hodgson has led the Red Wolves to back-to-back seasons with more than 20 wins in his first two years and was named a finalist for the Joe B. Hall Award as the nation’s top first-year coach last season.
Arkansas State is 25-10 this season — the most wins in program history — and shared the Sun Belt regular-season title. The Red Wolves play North Texas in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament on Sunday.
Hodgson signed a substantial contract extension with Arkansas State in January that bumped his yearly salary from $450,000 to $675,000, which is less than the $800,000 Kruger was set to make in each of the next two seasons.
The recent amendment to Hodgson’s deal included increased buyouts if he were to leave for another school, but it appears UNLV would be in luck if it were to hire him quickly, as the first amount of $1 million isn’t applicable until April 1, according to media reports of the document.
UNLV is paying Kruger a $2.35 million buyout.
Hodgson’s history with Alabama coach Nate Oats spans back to the four seasons they spent together at Buffalo from 2015-19.
They brought the Bulls to three NCAA Tournaments, reaching the second round in 2018 and 2019.
Oats and Hodgson also claimed three Mid-American Conference tournament championships and a pair of MAC regular-season titles at Buffalo before departing for the Crimson Tide.
Hodgson’s other assistant coaching stops include Midland College (2013-15), Jamestown Community College (2010-13) and Fredonia State (2007-10).
Contact Callie Fin at [email protected]. Follow @CallieJLaw on X.
