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Bryan Hodgson Leaving Alabama Basketball for Head Coaching Position
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Another assistant on Nate Oats' staff is leaving Tuscaloosa at the end of of the season.
Alabama Basketball assistant coach Bryan Hodgson is leaving the Crimson Tide for a head coaching position at Arkansas State. Reports indicated the move early Wednesday, and Arkansas State made it official in the afternoon.
This report is coming just eight days after fellow assistant coach Charlie Henry was named the next head coach at Georgia Southern.
Hodgson had been hearing from other schools before landing in Jonesboro, Ark. The athletic director at Arkansas State is Jeff Purinton, who was previously at Alabama for 11 years, and the football coach is former Crimson Tide analyst Butch Jones.
“Following a national search, which attracted many highly-qualified candidates across the country, we are excited to announce Bryan Hodgson as our head men’s basketball coach,” Purinton said in a release. “We visited with a variety of outstanding coaches from multiple levels, but we ultimately identified Bryan as the perfect fit for our program and community.
“He possesses well-rounded experience with a successful coaching and recruiting background. Bryan has also been very involved with all operational aspects of collegiate programs while working his way from a junior college coach to the highest level of Division I. I had the opportunity to work with him at Alabama and get to know him as a coach and person. He is a strong communicator who cares deeply about his student-athletes and puts them in the best position to succeed on the court and in the classroom.
“He has a great vision for Arkansas State basketball and the blueprint to carry it out in order to elevate our program to new heights. I’m confident he will build a winning culture, and we look forward to his leadership as our head men’s basketball coach.”
Hodgson has been with Oats since his time at Buffalo. He primarily works with Alabama's post players — the likes of Charles Bediako, Noah Clowney and others.
“I am both thrilled and honored to be the head men’s basketball coach at Arkansas State,” Hodgson said in a statement. “I want to thank Jeff Purinton, Dr. (Chuck) Welch and Dr. (Todd) Shields for this fantastic opportunity and entrusting me to lead this program.
“I’m looking forward to working with the outstanding administration, coaches and student-athletes at Arkansas State, as well as being very involved in the Jonesboro community. Along with my staff and our players, we will work tirelessly to build the success, profile and brand of A-State Basketball.
“We will strive to not only put a winning product on the floor that our fans will enjoy watching, but also handle our business off the court and in the classroom in a manner that makes everyone proud. There is no doubt that we have the potential for greatness here at A-State, and I can’t wait to get started.
“Finally, I want to thank Coach Oats, Greg Byrne, and everyone with the University of Alabama for an amazing four years. The University of Alabama is a special place, with amazing people, and I wouldn’t have had this opportunity without Coach Oats and the Alabama family. While I am excited about my future in Jonesboro, we have unfinished business here, and I’m eager to coach these young men for a few more games.”
Hodgson has played a big role in the Crimson Tide's stellar recruiting over the last few years.
Oats now has the task of refilling two assistant positions at the season's end — a tough task for any head coach.
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