Being a first-year head coach, especially in college basketball, is very much a roller coaster. Chances are your newness as a head coach is also tied to your general inexperience as one, and, quite possibly, your age. But regardless of where you stand in either area, some coaches have thrived in those situations, and it’s an occurrence which has encouraged several programs to take a chance on those facing similar circumstances.
Travis Steele is a prime example of this, because he received his first head coaching job a year and a half ago. After coaching at the collegiate level for 17 years, including stints at Ohio State, Indiana, and eventually Xavier, the latter chose to promote Steele to head coach following Chris Mack’s departure to Louisville.