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TAMPA — Any skepticism about new USF men’s coach Bryan Hodgson’s doggedness, his determination as a problem-solver, or the tint of blue in his figurative collar, diminished Friday with one automotive anecdote.
In early January, Hodgson’s Arkansas State team was roughly two hours into a 6 ½-hour journey to the University of South Alabama when a belt on its charter bus shredded shortly after getting through Memphis. When the driver informed Hodgson that his only option was to wait three hours for a mechanic, the coach drew up something on the fly.
In lieu of stalling, he attacked — with two hands unafraid of grime.
“I don’t know a ton about cars,” Hodgson said. “But we got back there, and between myself, the bus driver and two of our players actually, we were able to change that belt and get the bus back on the road. I’m getting a little more credit than I deserve, but I held the wrench.”
Less than three months later, Hodgson popped the hood of the Bulls program, finding a mechanism more than capable of hitting a high gear on the evolving collegiate landscape.
“This isn’t a rebuild,” he said.
Sure, USF has sputtered in the wake of tragedy, and some key parts need replaced, but Hodgson, 37, convinced Bulls administrators he possesses the relationship skills, recruiting chops and raw grit to help the program segue from check-engine to championships.
“What I often try to do is say, look, there are so many great coaches in every sport out there, but you’ve got to find someone that really wants to be here and that really aligns with what I think fits the whole modern athletic department-for-modern times concept,” Bulls athletic director Michael Kelly said late Friday morning, shortly after formally introducing Hodgson as the program’s 12th coach.
“Who’s adapting to the way things are now with the transfer portal, with likely revenue sharing coming up, and just loves the momentum that this university is on in terms of academically, research-wise and obviously athletically. So we think that Bryan is just the right fit at the right time to continue that trajectory.”
Equipped with a compelling backstory (he was placed in foster care by a teenaged mother at age 1) and glistening resume, Hodgson might have set a precedent Friday by winning his introductory news conference before it even began.
Roughly a half-hour before Hodgson approached a makeshift podium on the men’s practice court, promising freshman guard CJ Brown — one of a handful of Bulls to enter the NCAA transfer portal only days before — announced he would remain at USF.
“That is a big deal,” Hodgson said. “And it means the world to me because we just met 48 hours ago.”
That sudden change of heart testifies to Hodgson’s nationally-heralded recruiting acumen and ability to relate to others, no doubt borne of his boyhood. Raised in a rural New York home that took over 100 foster children from the time he was 3 until he was 14, Hodgson — ultimately adopted by his foster family — was forced to learn quickly how to interact with people from vastly different backgrounds.
“There’s not much that a young man’s going to bring me during the recruiting process that they’ve dealt with in their life that I can’t relate to in some way, shape or form,” said Hodgson, who serves as president of a nonprofit organization aimed at raising awareness for at-risk youth. “It’s really helped me as a coach, as a mentor, having those strong relationships.”
They have served Hodgson throughout his coaching odyssey, which began in the hardscrabble Division III and junior college ranks before leading to gigs on Nate Oats’ staffs at Buffalo and Alabama.
Once named the nation’s No. 2 recruiter by 247Sports, Hodgson was by Oats’ side for three MAC tournament titles (and three NCAA tourney berths) at Buffalo, and helped him achieve unprecedented success at Alabama, which won a pair of SEC titles (2021, 2023) and reached the Final Four last spring.
In two seasons at Arkansas State, Hodgson led the Red Wolves to consecutive 20-win seasons, and its first postseason triumph in 34 years. USF doesn’t require such a significant makeover, having won the program’s first conference title (and a school-record 25 games) two seasons ago under first-year coach Amir Abdur-Rahim, who passed away last October.
“When we were doing the search (two) years ago, I think we were trying to convince people like Amir that it can be done here,” Kelly said. “And thank goodness, he had the belief in us to do that and prove it. Now, people are actively seeking it because they have seen what can be done.”
On Friday, Hodgson praised the groundwork laid by Abdur-Rahim, with whom he said he had a “special relationship,” adding the infrastructure (namely revenue sharing, facilities and name, image and likeness funding) is in place at USF to continue Abdur-Rahim’s work.
“We want to embody the things that Coach Amir did on a daily basis, and represent this program and him in the proper manner,” Hodgson said.
“I’m so proud to be here and to be able to be a part of what he started. That’s not something that I take lightly. So really looking forward to continuing on the success that he had already had here, and we’re going to do that.”
Contact Joey Knight at [email protected]. Follow @TBTimes_Bulls
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In early January, Hodgson’s Arkansas State team was roughly two hours into a 6 ½-hour journey to the University of South Alabama when a belt on its charter bus shredded shortly after getting through Memphis. When the driver informed Hodgson that his only option was to wait three hours for a mechanic, the coach drew up something on the fly.
In lieu of stalling, he attacked — with two hands unafraid of grime.
“I don’t know a ton about cars,” Hodgson said. “But we got back there, and between myself, the bus driver and two of our players actually, we were able to change that belt and get the bus back on the road. I’m getting a little more credit than I deserve, but I held the wrench.”
Less than three months later, Hodgson popped the hood of the Bulls program, finding a mechanism more than capable of hitting a high gear on the evolving collegiate landscape.
“This isn’t a rebuild,” he said.
Sure, USF has sputtered in the wake of tragedy, and some key parts need replaced, but Hodgson, 37, convinced Bulls administrators he possesses the relationship skills, recruiting chops and raw grit to help the program segue from check-engine to championships.
“What I often try to do is say, look, there are so many great coaches in every sport out there, but you’ve got to find someone that really wants to be here and that really aligns with what I think fits the whole modern athletic department-for-modern times concept,” Bulls athletic director Michael Kelly said late Friday morning, shortly after formally introducing Hodgson as the program’s 12th coach.
“Who’s adapting to the way things are now with the transfer portal, with likely revenue sharing coming up, and just loves the momentum that this university is on in terms of academically, research-wise and obviously athletically. So we think that Bryan is just the right fit at the right time to continue that trajectory.”
Equipped with a compelling backstory (he was placed in foster care by a teenaged mother at age 1) and glistening resume, Hodgson might have set a precedent Friday by winning his introductory news conference before it even began.
Roughly a half-hour before Hodgson approached a makeshift podium on the men’s practice court, promising freshman guard CJ Brown — one of a handful of Bulls to enter the NCAA transfer portal only days before — announced he would remain at USF.
“That is a big deal,” Hodgson said. “And it means the world to me because we just met 48 hours ago.”
That sudden change of heart testifies to Hodgson’s nationally-heralded recruiting acumen and ability to relate to others, no doubt borne of his boyhood. Raised in a rural New York home that took over 100 foster children from the time he was 3 until he was 14, Hodgson — ultimately adopted by his foster family — was forced to learn quickly how to interact with people from vastly different backgrounds.
“There’s not much that a young man’s going to bring me during the recruiting process that they’ve dealt with in their life that I can’t relate to in some way, shape or form,” said Hodgson, who serves as president of a nonprofit organization aimed at raising awareness for at-risk youth. “It’s really helped me as a coach, as a mentor, having those strong relationships.”
They have served Hodgson throughout his coaching odyssey, which began in the hardscrabble Division III and junior college ranks before leading to gigs on Nate Oats’ staffs at Buffalo and Alabama.
Once named the nation’s No. 2 recruiter by 247Sports, Hodgson was by Oats’ side for three MAC tournament titles (and three NCAA tourney berths) at Buffalo, and helped him achieve unprecedented success at Alabama, which won a pair of SEC titles (2021, 2023) and reached the Final Four last spring.
In two seasons at Arkansas State, Hodgson led the Red Wolves to consecutive 20-win seasons, and its first postseason triumph in 34 years. USF doesn’t require such a significant makeover, having won the program’s first conference title (and a school-record 25 games) two seasons ago under first-year coach Amir Abdur-Rahim, who passed away last October.
“When we were doing the search (two) years ago, I think we were trying to convince people like Amir that it can be done here,” Kelly said. “And thank goodness, he had the belief in us to do that and prove it. Now, people are actively seeking it because they have seen what can be done.”
On Friday, Hodgson praised the groundwork laid by Abdur-Rahim, with whom he said he had a “special relationship,” adding the infrastructure (namely revenue sharing, facilities and name, image and likeness funding) is in place at USF to continue Abdur-Rahim’s work.
“We want to embody the things that Coach Amir did on a daily basis, and represent this program and him in the proper manner,” Hodgson said.
“I’m so proud to be here and to be able to be a part of what he started. That’s not something that I take lightly. So really looking forward to continuing on the success that he had already had here, and we’re going to do that.”
Contact Joey Knight at [email protected]. Follow @TBTimes_Bulls
• • •
Sign up for the Sports Today newsletter to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.
Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on Instagram, X and Facebook.
Continue reading...
