Hodgson will be introduced at PC Tuesday at 3 p.m.
By KEVIN McNAMARA
Providence College has officially named Bryan Hodgson as its next men’s basketball coach. Hodgson will be formally introduced at a press conference on Tuesday at 3 p.m.in the College’s Mullaney Gymnasium at Alumni Hall.
“I’m incredibly honored and excited to be named the next head coach of the Providence Friars men’s basketball program,” Hodgson said in a press release. “This is a program with a proud tradition, passionate fan base, and a city that truly embraces its team. We’re going to build something that reflects that pride. We will be tough, disciplined, and relentless in our pursuit of excellence.”
Hodgson and his fiancee, Jordan, have a son, Jett, who was born in 2024.
WHO IS BRYAN HODGSON?/Read the KevinMcSports Profile
Hodgson comes to Providence after one season at South Florida where he won the American Conference title and post-season tournament to lead the Bulls to the NCAA Tournament. He had two other seasons of head coaching experience at Arkansas State where his teams won 20 or more games in both seasons.
Before Arkansas State, he served as an assistant under Nate Oats at Alabama from 2019 to 2023 and played a key role in landing top-15 recruiting classes each season. Alabama advanced to the NCAA Tournament in three straight seasons during Hodgson’s time there, including two Sweet 16 appearances. In 2021 and 2023, the Crimson Tide won both the Southeastern Conference regular-season and tournament championships.
Hodgson also played a pivotal role in helping Oats lead the University of Buffalo’s rise into a mid-major powerhouse from 2015-19. He assisted in three NCAA Tournament runs, three Mid-American Conference tournament championships, two regular-season conference titles, and the program’s highest-ever national ranking (No. 14).
“Providence got themselves a proven winner. Bryan is a rising star in the business,” Oats said in PC’s hiring release. He plays a modern, high-octane, hard-playing, tough style of basketball. He’s relentless on the recruiting trail, plays a style that elite level players love to play in, and knows how to connect with his players. In just three years as a head coach, Bryan delivered conference championships at Arkansas State and South Florida. His brand of basketball wins! Bryan will bring a winning brand of basketball to Providence that the community will love to watch.”
“We are thrilled to have Bryan Hodgson join Providence College as the leader of our men’s basketball program,” said Providence College President Fr. Kenneth Sicard. “Bryan brings a strong track record of leadership and a deep commitment to developing student-athletes both on and off the court. His dedication to integrity, hard work, and competitive excellence aligns closely with the values of Providence College. I am confident that the future is bright for Friar men’s basketball, and I eagerly anticipate seeing the team reach new milestones under their new leader’s guidance.”
Providence athletic director Steve Napolillo was tasked with finding a replacement for Kim English and he said he focused on candidates who showed an ability to win in the current Name Image Likeness/Revenue Share world where the transfer portal is such an important piece of the roster building challenge.
“We are very excited to welcome Bryan Hodgson and his family to Providence College,” Napolillo said. “Today we begin a new journey with Providence College men’s basketball. It was my goal to find a head coach who would fit with our great athletic and academic institution. In addition, in this new revenue share/NIL landscape, I knew we needed a coach with the energy, passion and the skills to get us back to competing for championships and playing in the NCAA Tournament.
“Bryan has revived two Division 1 programs and it is our goal for him to bring new life into Friar men’s basketball,” Napolillo continued. “He has 18 years of college basketball coaching experience, including five as an assistant coach at the University of Alabama. Over the last three years, Bryan has successfully used analytics, his recruiting skills and coaching to win 70 games. Bryan is a winner and we need a winning culture at Providence College. We are looking forward to the start of a new era in Friartown as we enter the 100th year of Providence College men’s basketball.”
Florida coach Todd Golden also offered compliments on PC’s hiring of Hodgson, who the Gators competed against in both recruiting and on the floor when he worked at Alabama.
“Providence College has made a fantastic hire in Bryan Hodgson,” Golden said. “Bryan and I came up through the profession as assistant coaches at the same time, and I’ve always had great admiration for him as both a person and as a coach. He is a tireless worker. He has a great understanding of his strengths, and has, in a short period of time, proven twice that he can win and win big as a Division 1 Head Coach. In the ever-changing landscape of college athletics, he has proven that he is well-equipped to lead student-athletes to win championships with great integrity. I am very happy for Bryan and his family as they embark on this amazing opportunity!!”
