On Monday, The Lions named Kevin Hovde as their new head coach. This announcement follows Jim Engles’s resignation two weeks prior.

On Monday, Columbia Athletics announced Kevin Hovde as the new Men’s Basketball head coach. Hovde served as the assistant coach at the University of Florida for three seasons. In that role, Hovde led the Gators to the NCAA Tournament in 2024. The Gators are currently playing in the NCAA March Madness Tournament, where they have made it to the Sweet 16, the third round of the Tournament, in which 16 teams compete for a spot in the fourth round. 

Hovde has also served as the assistant coach and later associate head coach for the University of San Francisco from 2016-2021. 

Prior to this role, Hovde worked on former head coach Kyle Smith’s staff at Columbia from 2011-2016. He served as the director of basketball operations in 2011 before being promoted to assistant coach. 

Hovde is excited to return to Columbia and says that the “team will focus on having a consistent approach and an unrelenting competitive spirit as [they] strive for success in the Ivy League and beyond.” 

This decision comes just weeks after former head coach Jim Engles resigned. 

The following announcement was sent via email and posted to Columbia Athletics on Monday, March 24, 2025 at 2:09 pm: 

Columbia’s Campbell Family Director of Intercollegiate Athletics & Physical Education Peter Pilling has announced the hiring of Kevin Hovde as the head coach of the men’s basketball team. Hovde has been an assistant coach at the University of Florida for three years and helped the Gators reach the Sweet 16 on Sunday. He served on Kyle Smith’s staff at Columbia from 2011-16 and becomes the 24th head coach in program history.

Hovde will continue his role with the Gators until the completion of their season.

“We are thrilled to welcome Kevin Hovde back to the Columbia family,” said Pilling. “Our goal for our men’s basketball program is to win Ivy League Championships, and we believe he is the right person to lead us there. Kevin has a passion for the game, is committed to student-athlete development, and has a strategic approach to coaching and recruiting with a proven track record of success.”

Hovde has worked alongside another former Columbia assistant, Todd Golden, for nine seasons between their time at Florida and the University of San Francisco. UF went to the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons and won the 2025 SEC Tournament Championship before its run in the Big Dance.

“I am honored to be named head coach of Columbia men’s basketball,” said Hovde. “Columbia is truly a special place for my family and me, and we are thrilled to be back. It’s humbling to have the opportunity to develop young men into leaders on and off the court at one of the top universities in the world. I am eager to get to work and build a program our alumni and community can be proud of. Our team will focus on having a consistent approach and an unrelenting competitive spirit as we strive for success in the Ivy League and beyond.”

Men’s Basketball Team via GoColumbiaLions