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After 23 years in charge of the Seminoles, Leonard Hamilton is to step down from his coaching role at the end of the season. At 76, Florida State will be looking at a long list of younger candidates to hopefully lead the team into a new and successful chapter.
Fans will be keeping a close eye on the appointment and how bookmakers think it will affect the team's chances next season. Sports betting in the state has proven to be extremely popular, and bettors are able to back college sports teams unlike in many other states.
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If Seminoles fans are to bet on the team next season, they will want to know who is being appointed and what he will bring to the team.
Leonard Hamilton's Legacy
Hamilton joined Florida State as head coach in 2002 after spells at the Washington Wizards, Miami, and Oklahoma State. With Florida, he was named the ACC Coach of the Year on three occasions in 2009, 2012, and 2020, and leaves the team with an overall record of 457–290 (.612).
While he will be fondly remembered for his long tenure, a loss of form and legal troubles related to former players NIL (name, image, and likeness) rights makes it the right time for the coach to step aside.
Potential Targets
While it is unlikely that any successor will emulate the 23-year career that Hamilton had at Florida State, the opportunity to appoint a younger coach with new ideas is exciting.
Dennis Gates
Missouri head coach Dennis Gates is one option and he was assistant to Hamilton between 2011 and 2019 and has a history with the team. As head coach with Cleveland State, he qualified for one NCAA Tournament and had a 50-40 record before moving on to Missouri in 2023.
An NCAA appearance in his first season was followed by an unenviable 0-18 record the following year, but he has turned things around now.
Sam Cassell
Sam Cassell who is the current Boston Celtics assistant coach but he has yet to coach college basketball but has strong ties to the Seminoles after playing there. At 55, he might not be too keen on leaving the NBA for a college team, but it would be a great chance for him to lead his former team.
Jerrod Calhoun
Jerrod Calhoun would be a great pick with a strong track record. 124-38 at Fairmont State, 20 consecutive wins at Youngstown State, and a 19-3 record at Utah State speaks volumes for the 43-year-old.
Mike Morrell
A move for Mike Morrell could be seen as premature despite the UNC Asheville head coach having a 49-20 record in his first 2 years and 16-6 for this season. At 42, he has a long future in the game ahead of him but it could be too early in his career for a job like this.
Luke Loucks
At just 34 years of age, Loucks is the youngest candidate on this list and played under Hamilton for the Seminoles between 2008 and 2012. Currently at the Sacramento Kings as an assistant coach, his lack of experience as head coach should go against him, but he is seen as having a lot of potential.
As a young and talented Florida native, his appointment could add a bit of excitement to the team after years of having college football's oldest coach. Securing an up-and-coming talent before the sharks begin to circle could be in Florida State's best interests.
Bucky McMillan
Samford head coach Bucky McMillan has created a strong side that has had a 71-28 record across three seasons and was featured at the NCAA Tournament last season.
His high-energy tactics see his team pressing hard and hitting 3-pointers, and he has worked wonders with a team that lost many of its best players.
McMillan is another coach who is destined for bigger things and is sure to have a lot of suitors if he intends to move on.
Takayo Siddle
Siddle has a 97-44 from his four and a bit seasons as head coach of UNC Wilmington and is another younger option for Florida State to consider at just 38.
This season his team sits in second place with an 18-5 record and they are known for being difficult to turn over, sharing the ball easily, and hitting the free-throw line.
Richard Pitino
Richard Pitino has done a great job as head coach of New Mexico, transforming the team into a contender for the Mountain West division, and looks set to make the NCAA Tournament this season.
Will Wade
McNeese head coach Will Wade is a character that courts controversy after losing his LSU job following FBI wiretaps following the acquisition of high-profile players.
However, at 42 Wade still has a lot of good years in him and he is arguably the best coach that is available at the moment. While the team might suffer some criticism for his appointment, this could help to create a siege mentality that benefits the team even further.
Conclusion
As an upper-half ACC team, Florida State will offer a new coach a lot of potential. While the team doesn't have the most robust history, the University is not shy when it comes to funding.
No matter who comes in, it will be seen as a youthful appointment in comparison to Hamilton and there is a good selection of candidates in their 30s and 40s.
A coach with experience will be expected to provide immediate results, and Pitino and Wade fit this mold. However, taking a punt on a younger option could net them a top manager on his way up.
Whoever comes in will have to rejuvenate a stagnant team, and the majority of the picks mentioned above have the ability to implement a new regime that could help Florida State take a giant leap forward.
