2026 Off-Season Tracker

[Let'sGoZips94]

Worthwhile to track all Akron and MAC related off-season news.

 

Conference Changes

 

Departures: NIU to the Horizon League. SEE YA

 

Coaching Changes

 

EMU hired Billy Donlon (Clemson asst)

WMU hired Kahil Fennell (UTRGV HC)

Balls hired Chris Capko (SMU asst)

 

Transfer Portal

 

Balls Arrivals:

Balls Departures: Preston Copeland, Kayden Fish, Armoni Ziegler, Davion Hill

 

BUGS Arrivals

BUGS Departures: Johnea Donahue

 

Ohio Arrivals

Ohio Departures: Elijah Elliott, Ayden Evans, Jordan Fisher

 

Toledo Arrivals

Toledo Departures: London Praytor

 

WMU Arrivals

WMU Departures: Brady Swartz

Edited Friday at 04:12 PM by Let'sGoZips94

[Let'sGoZips94]

 

 

[Let'sGoZips94]

https://x.com/i/status/2034414113284149296

 

Looks like we'll have Steele tracking to do.

[Zippy87]

I have been updating MAC transfers in the recruiting subforum, I believe I have them all so far. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

17 hours ago, Zippy87 said:

I have been updating MAC transfers in the recruiting subforum, I believe I have them all so far. 

 

Sorry, figured that section was reserved for strictly Zips recruiting related topics. Figured this would be better for MAC tracking and anything that affects the Zips.

Edited Thursday at 06:40 PM by Let'sGoZips94

[tpsjugglerdude]

Looks like Ball State saw how poorly SMU played Miami and decided to hire Chris Capko off their staff as their next coach. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

https://x.com/i/status/2034993574857564166

 

WMU closing in on UTRGV HC.

[exit322]

On 3/18/2026 at 7:20 PM, Let'sGoZips94 said:

Worthwhile to track all Akron and MAC related off-season news.

 

Need to add:

MAC Addition

NIU to the Horizon League

[Let'sGoZips94]

2 minutes ago, exit322 said:

 

Need to add:

MAC Addition

NIU to the Horizon League

 

Good call. Updated.

[dirtyolcrowe]

On 3/18/2026 at 7:20 PM, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

 

He’ll be a star at The College of Wooster!!

[Let'sGoZips94]

[NWAkron]

43 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

big whiff by Coach Ford.  need a viable big.

[72 Roo]

I respectfully disagree. We don't need him and his attitude (me first). Groce has often said "you have to fit our culture, we are not going to change to fit you" Simmons demands everyone fits him. Besides we need more height than 6'7".  

[ewbrooman1]

On 3/20/2026 at 12:02 PM, Let'sGoZips94 said:

https://x.com/i/status/2034993574857564166

 

WMU closing in on UTRGV HC.

Had to look up who the heck UTRGV is. Not exactly a big name. Not much of a resume, but has been some good places.

Edited 20 hours ago by ewbrooman1

[NWAkron]

42 minutes ago, ewbrooman1 said:

Had to look up who the heck UTRGV is. Not exactly a big name. Not much of a resume, but has been some good places.

UTRGV was Dan Hipsher's last head-coaching job.  

 

Edited 20 hours ago by NWAkron

[ewbrooman1]

2 hours ago, NWAkron said:

UTRGV was Dan Hipsher's last head-coaching job.  

 

Well, it was Texas-Pan American when he started. 😉Looking at their history, it's a tough place to win or even be respectable for that matter. Fennell had two winning records there his two years. Maybe WMU is on to something. 

Edited 18 hours ago by ewbrooman1

[Let'sGoZips94]

 

Whoa.

[exit322]

26 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Whoa.

 

It's tough being a non-P4 coach, especially when you used to be in a major basketball league.

[Let'sGoZips94]

4 minutes ago, exit322 said:

 

It's tough being a non-P4 coach, especially when you used to be in a major basketball league.

 

Creighton should be one of the premier jobs in the country. Outside of UCONN, the entire Big East should be. Without football, the revenue share can all go towards basketball; don't need to rely on donors as much.

Edited 1 hour ago by Let'sGoZips94

[exit322]

31 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Creighton should be one of the premier jobs in the country. Outside of UCONN, the entire Big East should be. Without football, the revenue share can all go towards basketball; don't need to rely on donors as much.

 

Definitely a premier mid-major job, I agree.  UConn should be part of that grouping, too.

[UAZipster0305]

1 hour ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Creighton should be one of the premier jobs in the country. Outside of UCONN, the entire Big East should be. Without football, the revenue share can all go towards basketball; don't need to rely on donors as much.

But without football, there's a lot less excess revenue to spread around to buy players for other sports. It is no coincidence that the Sweet 16 contains only one non-P4 school, and St. Johns is a traditional basketball powerhouse with an exceptional coach.

 

Even traditional P4 powerhouse basketball schools such as UNC, Kentucky, and Kansas have had a steep dropoff in recent years while Michigan and Iowa, where football is relatively strong, have risen in basketball.

Edited 23 minutes ago by UAZipster0305

[Let'sGoZips94]

25 minutes ago, UAZipster0305 said:

But without football, there's a lot less excess revenue to spread around to buy players for other sports. It is no coincidence that the Sweet 16 contains only one non-P4 school, and St. Johns is a traditional basketball powerhouse with an exceptional coach.

 

Even traditional P4 powerhouse basketball schools such as UNC, Kentucky, and Kansas have had a steep dropoff in recent years while Michigan and Iowa where football is relatively strong, have risen in basketball.

 

Providence just hired Hodgson from USF, who turned down Cuse due to a lack of funding. Providence is rumored to be in the $10M range next year for their roster. P4 doesn't mean the resources are better; Iowa is exhibit A. McCollum is just that good of a coach. Florida has ample resources but Golden sucks both as a coach and as a human being. It's possible to compete outside the P4, but it requires the right coach/staff. 

Edited 24 minutes ago by Let'sGoZips94

[exit322]

7 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Providence just hired Hodgson from USF, who turned down Cuse due to a lack of funding. Providence is rumored to be in the $10M range next year for their roster. P4 doesn't mean the resources are better; Iowa is exhibit A. McCollum is just that good of a coach. Florida has ample resources but Golden sucks both as a coach and as a human being. It's possible to compete outside the P4, but it requires the right coach/staff. 

 

Admittedly, the tough part of the branding here is determining if it's really a P4, or if it's more of a P2.5, because the ACC is so far behind the SEC/B1G/even B12.

[kreed5120]

It's not really a P4. It's a Big 2 with SEC and BIG. Big 12 has still managed to remain competitive. It doesn't seem like the ACC schools have the money to compete in both football and basketball. Probably on even footing with Big East.