The Quakers will be looking for a new coach to lead the men's basketball team since 2015.
Credit: Abhiram JuvvadiAfter the news that Steve Donahue will not return as head coach of Penn men’s basketball, the Quakers will be seeking a new head of the program for the first time since 2015. Let’s break down six potential candidates for the role and what X-factor quality each could bring to the position.
1. Dave Klatsky
Current position: Head coach, New York University
Klatsky, who played under legendary Penn coach Fran Dunphy from 1999-2003, is the most natural choice for the job. Currently in his third season as head coach of NCAA Division III NYU, Klatsky has led the Violets to a 28-1 record and the semifinal round of the NCAA Tournament, where they will play Washington University in St. Louis on March 20. While NYU is his first stop as a head coach, Klatsky has assistant experience at the Division I level, most notably coaching at Colgate from 2011-22 and helping the Raiders to three Patriot League titles.
X factor: Age
At 44, Klatsky has a long coaching career ahead of him and has the chance to helm Penn’s program for an extended period. The so-called Ancient Eight is a league dominated by coaches with previous Ivy experience, and many of its most successful coaches have been hired young — Dunphy was 41 when he took over at Penn — while Yale’s James Jones and Princeton’s Mitch Henderson were each hired before turning 37. In an ever-changing college sports landscape, Klatsky has the chance to reshape and guide the program for years to come.
2. Matt Langel
Current position: Head coach, Colgate
Langel is one of the most experienced candidates Penn could pursue. The former All-Ivy first-teamer under Dunphy also began his coaching career as an assistant at Penn in 2004 but quickly rose through the ranks and has helmed Colgate since 2011 — when he hired Klatsky. His time there featured unprecedented success, including the aforementioned Patriot League titles and a run of four straight NCAA tournament appearances that came to an end this season. One potential pitfall is Langel’s contract situation. With a deal in place to keep him at Colgate through 2030, Penn would have to pay a significant portion of Langel’s buyout to hire him. Another concern is that the switch from Colgate to Penn would be somewhat of a lateral move considering the programs’ similar national standing, but the chance to coach at his alma mater could entice Langel to make the switch.
X factor: Coaching style
Colgate has consistently been one of the country’s most efficient teams under Langel, and much of that success stems from his offensive schemes. Similar to Donahue, Langel’s teams take and make a significant volume of three-pointers. The Raiders finished top three in the nation in three-point percentage in 2021, 2022, and 2023, including a D-I best 40.5% clip in 2022-23. In an Ivy League shooting more three-pointers than ever — with Cornell and Princeton ranked 10th and 11th nationally in attempts this season — Langel’s embrace of deep shots could help Penn keep pace while providing a sense of continuity from Donahue’s offensive style.
3. Andrew Toole
Current position: Head coach, Robert Morris
Toole is currently in the midst of his most successful season as a head coach, leading Robert Morris to a Horizon League championship and a berth to the NCAA Tournament, where they will face Alabama on March 21. Toole played at Penn from 2001-03 and spent one season as an assistant at Lafayette in 2006-07 before becoming an assistant at RMU, where he took over as head coach in 2010. Toole has led the Colonials to two NCAA Tournaments (as well as a third berth in 2020 when the tournament was canceled) but has also overseen subpar campaigns including four straight losing seasons from 2020-21 until 2023-24.
X-Factor: Transfer Portal
Despite spending the majority of his playing and coaching career in Pennsylvania, Toole has cast a wide net to build this season’s Colonials roster. Leading scorer Kam Woods was a transfer addition by way of NC State, while RMU’s rotation also features five other transfers. Donahue also began to embrace the portal late in his coaching career, notably adding junior guard Ethan Roberts, Penn’s leading scorer in 2024-25. Toole’s approach could further that success and provide Penn with the sort of experienced roster that has become prevalent in the upper echelon of college basketball.
4. Fran McCaffery
Current position: Recently dismissed as head coach at Iowa
The lone candidate who predates Dunphy at Penn, McCaffery was recently dismissed from Iowa after a 15-year stint as the Hawkeyes head coach. During that time, he led the program to seven NCAA Tournaments and coached 2021 National Player of the Year Luka Garza, (as well as All-Americans Keegan and Kris Murray) but failed to advance past the Round of 32. McCaffery played at Penn from 1979-82 before spending a year in the Palestra as an assistant.
X-Factor: Experience
McCaffery would bring a level of high-major experience rarely seen in the Ivy League, but he’s also experienced success in the mid-major ranks. Before being hired at Iowa, he led each of Lehigh, UNC Greensboro, and Siena to tournament trips, including three straight MAAC titles in his final three seasons with the Saints. While some may have concerns about hiring a candidate in the final stages of his coaching career, McCaffery’s track record is second to none.
5. Ira Bowman
Current position: Assistant coach, Auburn
Bowman boasts the most accomplished playing career of any potential Penn candidate. An Ivy League Player of the Year in 1995-96, Bowman played briefly in the NBA for the Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers before eventually pursuing a career in coaching. Bowman was an assistant at NJIT from 2009-12 before serving on the staff at Penn from 2012-18 under both Jerome Allen and Steve Donahue.
At Auburn, Bowman has contributed to the Tigers’ rise to the pinnacle of the sport. In his first season on staff, Auburn made a run to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament, and this season’s Tigers are seeded No. 1 overall in the March Madness field. Bowman is a program legend and has high-major experience but lacks experience as a head coach.
X-Factor: Recruiting
Bowman has served as the lead recruiter for the top-ranked Tigers and helped bring in elite talent for years, including NBA draft picks Isaac Okoro and Sharife Cooper. As a former professional player himself, Bowman has the ability to forecast a career after college for the players he pursues. Though the task is more difficult at Penn due to the Ivy League's lack of scholarships, procuring top talent was a major issue in Donahue's final years that could be assuaged under Bowman.
6. John Krikorian
Current position: Head coach, Christopher Newport
Another dominant coach at the D-III level, Krikorian was a member of the junior varsity team at Penn and spent his senior year in 1996 as a student assistant. After assistant stints at a variety of stops, including Penn, Krikorian was hired as the head coach at Christopher Newport in 2010, where he has led the Captains to become one of D-III’s premier programs. In 2022-23, the Captains went 30-3 and won the D-III National Championship, an achievement that distinguishes him among Penn’s candidates.
X-Factor: Consistency
For many years, Penn men’s basketball was one of the nation’s most reliable programs. From 1960-2008, the Quakers recorded a losing record in Ivy League play just one time. Since then, it has happened nine times. As the Red and Blue look to return to their previous dominance, Krikorian provides a track record of undeniable stability. As a head coach, Krikorian has only once had a losing campaign, and the Captains have never lost more than nine games in a season during his 15-year tenure. Hiring Krikorian or Klatsky is a risk given the additional complexities of D-I sports, but both have the records to back up their candidacy.
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