Halcovage named UB men’s basketball coach

George Halcovage III has been named the 15th head coach in UB men’s basketball history, Mark Alnutt, vice president and director of athletics, announced on Thursday.

A rising star in the coaching ranks, Halcovage comes to UB from Villanova, where he spent 15 years, most recently serving as associate head coach.

As a trusted assistant to legendary Villanova head coach Jay Wright, Halcovage helped lead the Wildcats to a record of 389-131 (.748), two national championships, four NCAA regional championships, seven Big East regular season championships and five Big East Tournament championships.

“It is an honor for me to announce George Halcovage III as the head coach for our UB men’s basketball program,” Alnutt said. “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. 

“He has experience winning at the highest level, he’s a tenacious recruiter and has the exceptional ability to connect with people,” Alnutt said. “He has a very clear vision of sustained excellence for UB Basketball, which will position our program to regularly compete for MAC championships and perform at a high level in the classroom while developing young men who will be champions in life. I am thrilled to welcome George and Lizzy Halcovage to our UB family.” 

Halcovage was promoted to associate head coach in June 2021. That season, he helped lead Villanova to a 30-8 record, a Big East title and a spot in the Final Four in New Orleans.

Halcovage worked his way up the ranks at Villanova, beginning as a graduate assistant in 2008. He was a part of the Villanova staff that guided the Wildcats to the 2009 NCAA Final Four in Detroit. In 2010, he was promoted to video coordinator. He later was named director of basketball operations and served in that capacity during the Wildcats’ run to the 2016 NCAA National Championship. In 2017-18, he was an assistant coach as the Wildcats posted a 36-4 record on their way to another NCAA title. 

“It is an incredible honor and privilege to be chosen as the head men’s basketball coach of the University at Buffalo,” Halcovage said. “From the moment my wife, Lizzy, and I arrived in Western New York, it felt like home, and we are beyond excited for this next chapter. I would like to thank President Tripathi, Vice President and Director of Athletics Mark Alnutt and his wife, Kate, as well as the entire search committee for their dedication, commitment and belief in me as the leader of this program.

“I am thrilled to be joining the UB family and cannot wait to get to work in Buffalo! Horns up!”

Halcovage was named to the list of Top 50 Most Impactful High-Major Assistants by Silver Waves Media in 2020 and 2022.  

A native of Pottsville, Penn., Halcovage is a 2008 graduate of Babson College, where he was a member of the Beavers’ men’s basketball team. He earned a master’s degree in business administration from Villanova in 2021.

He and his wife are expecting their first child in July.

Halcovage will be formally introduced at a press conference later this week.