Travis Steele named new head coach at Xavier

Just a little less than a week removed from Chris Mack’s departure to Louisville, Xavier has named its next head basketball coach—Travis Steele.

The Xavier administration had to look no further than internally to find its next men’s basketball coach. Steele has served on the coaching staff of the men’s team for nine seasons, six of which as an assistant coach and three years including this past season as associate head coach. In his time on the Xavier staff, the team reached the Sweet 16 five times and the Elite Eight in 2017.

Steele is highly regarding as one of Xavier’s top recruiters with a proven track record of bringing in big-name recruits including current point guard Quentin Goodin and Trevon Bluiett. He was also the head recruiter to get commits from two members of Xavier’s 2018 class: Jake Walter and Dontarius James. He now inherits a Musketeers team that will enter next season as the defending regular season conference champions.

Steele will become the fifth head coach for Xavier men’s basketball since the turn of the century joining notable coaches like the late Skip Prosser, Thad Matta, Sean Miller and Chris Mack becoming the 18th head coach in program history.