Providence HC Bryan Hodgson lands Mountain West DPOY in transfer portal

Story by

David DelPoio/The Providence Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Richard Pereira, ClutchPoints

Thu, Apr 9, 2026 ·

2 min read

Providence HC Bryan Hodgson lands Mountain West DPOY in transfer portal appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .

Bryan Hodgson has made a huge addition to the Providence Friars upon his arrival as the next head coach of the program. The player he landed shined as one of the best defenders in the country, getting the likes of Miles Byrd in the process.

Byrd made his decision to join the Friars on Thursday, per Yahoo Sports. This move comes as he departs from the San Diego State Aztecs after four seasons. He made his way up the ranks before becoming a full-time starter in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 campaigns, respectively.

Byrd is coming off his best season to date. He averaged 10.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 40.5% from the field. His 1.9 steals and 1.2 blocks per game allowed him to win Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Byrd stood out as one of the top players upon entering the transfer portal this offseason. He boasted a four-star ranking with a 96 rating on 247Sports, being the top player among small forwards and ninth in the entire transfer class. Coming out of high school, he had a 95 score as he listed fifth among shooting guards, eighth in the state of California and 57th in the entire recruiting class of 2022.

What’s next for Bryan Hodgson, Providence

It was an amazing pickup for Bryan Hodgson to pull off for Providence. Getting a defensive star in Miles Byrd will work wonders in the Friars’ style of play going into next season.

Byrd had plenty of high-level programs pursuing him before he made his choice. The teams that were close included Kentucky, Baylor, Louisville, Providence, Texas, Vanderbilt, and Cincinnati.

Hodgson enjoyed an incredible campaign with the USF Bulls this past season. He coached them to a 25-9 record, winning the American regular-season title and tournament title to qualify for March Madness before losing to Louisville in the Round of 64.

The Friars seek a return to relevance, last appearing in the Big Dance in 2023. They finished with last season with a 15-18 overall record, firing Kim English after three years.