Providence hiring South Florida coach Bryan Hodgson: Friars hope to have more than $10 million to spend in NIL

Hodgson was a primary candidate going back weeks, and he figures to be a good personality fit for the job

Bryan Hodgson: Friar.

Providence has agreed to a five-year contract with the 38-year-old to be the next coach of its men's basketball program, sources told CBS Sports. Hodgson just guided South Florida to the NCAA Tournament (as a No. 11 seed) in his first season with the Bulls and was at Arkansas State for two years prior to that, totaling a 70-37 record and two first-place finishes in the Sun Belt and the American.

The move was expected throughout this week. Providence athletic director Steve Napolillo put Hodgson atop his list of targets earlier this month, according to sources, and it became clear behind the scenes that Hodgson was bound for the Big East; no other candidates lingered as potential alternatives. Though he hasn't ever coached in the Big East, Hodgson has power-conference experience; he was a mover on the recruiting trail from 2019-23 under Nate Oats at Alabama.

Hodgson is replacing Kim English, who spent three years with the program but was fired after the Big East Tournament and a 15-18 season. Hodgson's bold-as-brass temperament figures to be a personality fit with a fan base that is small but fiery and deeply invested. Speaking of investments, money is expected to be plentiful at PC. Per two sources, the Friars are expected to operate north of $10 million in NIL and revenue sharing for the 2026-27 season. 

That type of spending power will make PC a player in the portal market in the lead-up to its official opening on April 7, the day after the national title game.

With Providence off the board, the Friars join Kansas State (Casey Alexander) and Georgia Tech (Scott Cross) as the three high-major vacancies to fill amid the din of the NCAA Tournament.