After seven seasons, the Washington Huskies have cut ties with coach Mike Hopkins. He got off to a hot start during his first two seasons, winning Pac-12 Coach of the Year for both the 2017-18 and 2018-19 campaigns and leading the Huskies to a berth in the 2019 NCAA Tournament, earning a victory over Utah State before falling to North Carolina.
“Mike has led the program with great integrity during his seven years at Washington, and remains a highly respected coach and one of the great gentlemen in the game,” athletic director Troy Dannen said. “Everyone at the university is grateful for his service, his commitment to the experience of our student-athletes and his leadership within the department. We wish Mike, Trisha and their children the very best in the future.”
Since the loss to the Tar Heels, Hopkins’ teams have struggled despite pulling in top talent like Keion Brooks Jr., Jaden McDaniels, and Isaiah Stewart. Hopkins will remain with the team through the end of the season, finishing with a 116-104 regular season record.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve as the head basketball coach at the University of Washington the last seven years,” Hopkins said in a statement. “Thank you to my players, staff, administration, fans, and alumni that have made this experience special and an awesome place for my family and me. The relationships we’ve made will last a lifetime.”
Among some of the candidates who have been floated as a potential replacement for Hopkins include Utah State’s Danny Sprinkle, Washington State’s Kyle Smith, and Hopkins’ top assistant Will Conroy and Dannen seems to have a good idea of what he’s looking for in Washington’s next head coach.
“As we transition to the Big Ten Conference this August, we do so with tremendous momentum, passionate fans and supporters, as well as a proud basketball tradition,” he said. “I am confident we will identify a phenomenal leader for our men’s basketball program who will embrace our institution’s high expectations for academic, social and competitive success.”