While it wasn't a period filled with sweeping changes, two programs will enter the 2025-26 season with new head coaches at the helm.
Let's take a closer look at the two new head coaches in the AAC and their backgrounds.
In: Daniyal Robinson
Out: Ross Hodge
North Texas welcomes Daniyal Robinson as its new head coach. The 49-year-old Rock Island, Illinois native began his coaching career as an assistant at Illinois State in 2003. Over the next two decades, Robinson built a strong résumé through various assistant roles before landing his first head coaching job at Cleveland State in 2022.
During his three-year tenure with the Vikings, Robinson compiled 65 total wins and a 39-21 record in Horizon League play. Despite consistent success in the regular season, his teams fell short of making an NCAA Tournament appearance. Now, he takes over a North Texas program looking to continue its upward trajectory.
Ross Hodge, meanwhile, leaves behind a strong foundation after posting a 46-24 record in two seasons and leading the Mean Green to a pair of NIT appearances. His success earned him a new opportunity as the head coach at West Virginia, where he'll now compete in the Big 12 Conference.
In: Bryan Hodgson
Out: Amir Abdur-Rahim
Bryan Hodgson, 38, takes over the South Florida Bulls after two successful seasons at Arkansas State. A native of Olean, New York, Hodgson began his coaching career at Fredonia State in 2007 after playing at Jamestown Community College. He later served as an assistant at Midland, Buffalo, and Alabama before getting his first head coaching opportunity with the Red Wolves in 2023.
In his two years at Arkansas State, Hodgson guided the team to 45 total wins, including a 24-12 mark in Sun Belt play. Although his teams did not reach the NCAA Tournament, they tied for the conference title last season, proving Hodgson's ability to build competitive programs quickly.
The Bulls' coaching change comes under difficult circumstances. Former head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim tragically passed away at Tampa General Hospital just before the start of the 2024-25 season due to complications from a medical procedure. He was just 43 years old. Abdur-Rahim led Kennesaw State to national relevance before posting a 25-8 record in his lone season with South Florida.
All eyes in the AAC will be on Daniyal Robinson at North Texas and Bryan Hodgson at South Florida as they begin new eras for their respective programs. Both coaches face different challenges, but they share the same goal: to build and sustain programs that can compete for AAC titles and NCAA Tournament appearances in the years to come.