Arkansas State head coach Bryan Hodgson will now lead the men’s basketball program, USF Athletics announced Monday night.

Hodgson, 37, will become USF’s 12th coach in program history. He said he was excited to coach the Bulls in a press release.

“We will play with energy, toughness, and a relentless drive to compete at the highest level,” Hogdson said. “I can’t wait to get started!”

USF Athletics Director Michael Kelly said Hodgson is a perfect fit for the program.

 “His passion, energy, and vision for USF basketball align perfectly with our commitment to excellence,” Kelly said. “We believe he is the right leader to take this program to new heights, and we can’t wait to see his impact on our student-athletes and the Tampa Bay community.”

The news comes after initial buzz of Hodgson accepting the head-coaching gig at UNLV. USF announced its search for a head coach just 10 days prior to Monday’s announcement. 

Related: USF starts search for next men’s basketball coach

Hodgson will take over a Bulls team reeling off a disappointing season, albeit in the wake of tragedy.

Weeks before the 2024 season was set to commence, USF men’s basketball head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim died unexpectedly due to complications from a medical procedure.

Abdur-Rahim’s assistant, Ben Fletcher, was chosen as interim head coach for the season. Under Fletcher’s leadership, the Bulls finished a subpar 13-19, and exited the conference tournament in round one.

In his two seasons with the Red Wolves, Hodgson led the team to back-to-back 20-win seasons. 

This past year, Arkansas State captured the Sun Belt regular season title and a postseason berth in the National Invitational Tournament, its first since 1999.

Before leading the Red Wolves, Hodgson served as an assistant coach for the University of Alabama from 2019-23. The Crimson Tide made the NCAA tournament three times during the span, including a Final Four appearance in 2024.

Hodgson has been a renowned recruiter in his coaching career. In his four years at Alabama, the Crimson Tide secured a top 15 recruiting class each season. 

He continued the recruiting success with the Red Wolves, earning the 35th recruiting class this year, according to 24/7 Sports.

Hodgson has coached 12 players who have played in the NBA. Among those players is Brandon Miller, the 2023 No. 2 overall pick in the NBA draft.

Hodgson will have to use his recruiting prowess to help put together a depleting roster.

The top three leading scorers for the Bulls this season –Jamille Reynolds, Jayden Reid and Kobe Knox – might not be back next season.

Reynolds opted to forgo his last year of eligibility for the NBA draft, while Reid and Knox have entered the transfer portal. 

All AAC-Freshman guard CJ Brown also chose to enter the transfer portal, but stated he’s open to returning to the team.