After nearly three weeks of searching, UB men’s basketball hired Villanova associate coach George Halcovage III as its next head coach, according to a press release.
The Bulls reportedly offered the job to multiple candidates in the 19 days since former head coach Jim Whitesell’s firing on March 11, but agreed to terms with Halcovage on Thursday.
“It is an honor for me to announce George Halcovage III as the head coach for our UB men’s basketball program,” Athletic Director Mark Alnutt said in the press release. “George has proven himself as one of the top assistant coaches in collegiate basketball. His knowledge of the game, energy, passion and work ethic allowed him to climb the proverbial ladder and assume the role of associate head coach at Villanova University.”
Halcovage spent 15 seasons with the Villanova basketball program. He was an assistant coach to head coach Jay Wright and accumulated two National Championships, four Final Four appearances and five Big East Tournament titles over that time.
Halcovage was promoted to the role of Villanova’s associate head coach prior to the 2021 season. The Wildcats went 30-8 that season and earned a berth in the Final Four.
Previously, Halcovage worked on the staff of the Wildcats teams that won the 2016 and 2018 men’s basketball national championship. He served as director of basketball operations in 2016-17 and assistant coach in 2017-18.
Halcovage takes the helm of a UB team that finished 15-17 (9-9 MAC) in 2022-23. On March 11, the university parted ways with head coach Jim Whitesell after the team fell 101-77 to Akron in the first-round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament quarterfinals.
Ryan Tantalo is the senior sports editor and can be reached at ryan.tantalo@ubspectrum.com
Ryan Tantalo is the managing editor of The Spectrum. He previously served as senior sports editor. Outside of the newsroom, Ryan spends his time announcing college hockey games, golfing, skiing and reading.
Photo: Ryan Hagen | UB Athletics
