Washington basketball firing Mike Hopkins: Why Huskies are moving on from coach

Editor's note: This story has been updated from a previous version.

Washington has fired seventh-year Huskies coach Mike Hopkins and will move on from him following the conclusion of the team's 2023-24 college basketball season, as confirmed by the university.

His Huskies (17-14, 9-11 in Pac-12 play) have yet to be seeded in the conference tournament, but enter having won two of their last three games, including a 74-68 victory over 18th-ranked rival Washington State.

To date, Hopkins is 118-105 at Washington and 62-72 in Pac-12 play. He took over Washington in 2017-18, leading the team to the second round of the NIT that season before leading the Huskies to their first and only NCAA Tournament berth under his tenure the following year. The 9-seed Huskies beat Utah State before falling to North Carolina in the second round.

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Washington is not currently projected to make the 2024 NCAA Tournament per recent bracketology projections, and is ranked No. 66 in the latest NET rankings. Whether the Huskies finish their season in March Madness or the NIT remains to be seen.

Here's everything you need to know about Hopkins' firing at Washington.

Mike Hopkins contract

Hopkins signed a six-year contract extension following the 2018-19 college basketball season. Per his contract, obtained by the USA Today Network, Hopkins is due $3.2 million if fired as of April 1, 2024.

Washington comment on Mike Hopkins firing

Washington issued the following statement on Hopkins' firing:

"Mike has led the program with great integrity during his seven years at Washington, and remains a highly respected coach and one of the great gentlemen in the game," Washington athletics director Troy Dannen said. "Everyone at the university is grateful for his service, his commitment to the experience of our student-athletes and his leadership within the department. We wish Mike, Trisha and their children the very best in the future.

"As we transition to the Big Ten Conference this August, we do so with tremendous momentum, passionate fans and supporters, as well as a proud basketball tradition. I am confident we will identify a phenomenal leader for our men's basketball program who will embrace our institution's high expectations for academic, social and competitive success."

Added Hopkins:

"I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve as the head basketball coach at the University of Washington the last seven years. Thank you to my players, staff, administration, fans, and alumni that have made this experience special and an awesome place for my family and me. The relationships we've made will last a lifetime."

Mike Hopkins record at Washington

Hopkins finishes his Washington tenure with an overall winning record, but sub-.500 mark in Pac-12 play. He is 118-105 overall and 62-72 in the Pac-12. The Huskies enjoyed their greatest success under Hopkins in 2017-18 and 2018-19, years in which they went a combined 48-22 overall and 25-11 in conference play.

The Huskies' best season under Hopkins came in 2018-19, when they went 27-9 overall, 15-3 in the Pac-12 and won the conference regular-season championship. Washington lost the Pac-12 championship game to Oregon, 68-48, before making its first March Madness appearance since the 2010-11 season.

Following that season, however, the Huskies not only did not make the NCAA Tournament again, but also had only one winning season (prior to the 2023-24 season). That came in 2021-22, when when the team went 17-15 overall and 11-9 in the Pac-12. The Huskies' season ended with a quarterfinal loss to USC in the conference tournament.

Here's a year-by-year breakdown of Hopkins' record at Washington:

• 2017-18: 21-13 (10-8 Pac-12)
• 2018-19: 27-9 (15-3)
• 2019-20: 15-17 (5-13)
• 2020-21: 5-21 (4-16)
• 2021-22: 17-15 (11-9)
• 2022-23: 16-16 (8-12)
• 2023-24: 17-14 (9-11)