The biggest coaching move was seven-time national champion Kevin Boyle leaving the Montverde Academy bench after 14 seasons to begin a new chapter at
Spire Academy (Geneva, Ohio).
A few high-profile jobs remain open as John Marshall and
Camden (N.J.) have yet to announce new hires at this point.
Read on for a look at 11 coaching changes expected to shift the landscape of high school basketball next season.
Following a successful 14-year stint at Montverde Academy, Kevin Boyle looks to elevate Spire Academy to national prominence. (PHOTO: Lonnie Webb)
Previous position: Georgia Southern assistant coach
After spending one season at the collegiate level, Bethea returns to the program where he won 273 games and six state championships. Under Bethea, Gray Collegiate won the Class AA state championship three straight times on two separate occasions. The War Eagles won three straight from 2017-18 through 2019-20 and again from 2021-22 through 2023-24.
Under Boyle's leadership, Montverde was recognized as a national champion by MaxPreps in 2013, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2024. He won 91 percent of his games during his 14 seasons with the program, guiding it to a record of 363-33 with 14 straight top 10 finishes. The coaching legend now looks to transform Spire Academy into a perennial powerhouse in what could be the final stop of his coaching journey.
Following the retirement of coaching legend Sam Duane, Collard was named the head coach of a program that has won four consecutive state championship and finished ranked No. 4 in the final MaxPreps Top 25 last season. Previously the head coach at Boulder Creek, Collard led the Jaguars to state semifinal appearances in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Ford helped guide the girls program to the state championship in his first year in 2023-24 and the state quarterfinals this past season. Ford takes over a program coming off a state championship and where he was a long-time assistant under previous head coach David Peavy.
Previous position: Columbus assistant coach
Despite the graduation of the Boozer brothers, Milo is expected to have one of the top cast of returners in high school basketball with Class of 2026 prospects Jaxon Richardson, Caleb Gaskins, Keeper Jackson and Celo Jackson all expected to see increased roles. Milo takes over the helm after previous head coach Andrew Moran took an assistant coaching job at the University of Miami.
Previous position: Duncanville head coach
A successful run in the Lone Star State saw Peavy guide Duncanville to three state championships and one national title. Although a fourth state championship was revoked by the UIL, the Panthers have been a mainstay in the national rankings over the past six years with five appearances in the final MaxPreps Top 25. Peavy brings four-star Class of 2027 prospect Beckham Black with him to the upstart program.
Emanuel Richardson, St. James Performance Academy (Springfield, Va.)
Previous position: University of Arizona assistant coach (2009-2017)
Although Richardson has not been on the bench for the past eight seasons, he brings a wealth of knowledge to the program as a former college assistant coach from 1998 through 2017. Richardson is on a quest for redemption after spending time in prison following a FBI sting into his connection with corruption in collegiate athletics. St. James Performance Academy is a new school in Northern Virginia.
Steve Turner, Montverde Academy
Following a successful run at Gonzaga, where he compiled a record of 497-176 over 21 seasons, Turner will begin a new challenge this season as he takes over at Montverde Academy. After back-to-back finishes in the MaxPreps Top 25 national rankings at Gonzaga, Turner looks to continue Montverde's dominance on the national stage.
Keith Urgo, Gonzaga
Previous school: Fordham University head coach
A three-year run as the head coach at Fordham University saw Urgo lead the program to a record of 50-49 and earn Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year honors in 2023 after going 25-8. Urgo also spent time as an assistant coach at Villanova and Penn State. He takes over at his alma mater following a successful stint under Steve Turner.
In one of the more shocking moves of the off-season, White takes over as head coach of his alma mater following a successful run at John Marshall that saw him capture seven state championships in 15 seasons and pile up a record of 322-60. White led John Marshall to the national championship in 2022-23 and has finished in the Maxpreps Top 25 national rankings in each of the past three seasons.
Previous position: Team Melo head coach
Hired by co-General Manager of Basketball Operations Carmelo Anthony and Bay Frazier Jr., Zito looks to return the Warriors to national prominence. Oak Hill has missed Chipotle Nationals three straight seasons following the retirement of coaching legend Steve Smith, who compiled a record of 1,228-97 during his 37 years with the program. Zito previously served as the head coach of Team Melo on the Nike EYBL circuit.
