This sounds crazy but when CC leads his team against the University of Maine to officially start the season, his tenure as GW's head coach will have exceeded those of both Jamion Christian and Maurice Joseph.  Year 4 is often looked upon as a "make or break" type year for coaches who sign five-year contracts.  Parting ways with a year left on a contract is far more common than forcing a coach to serve in a lame duck capacity.  It is therefore worth reminding that CC did sign a contract extension after completing the first year of his contract.  It's reasonable to think that this might have been a two-year extension, the school kept this quiet, which would mean that CC is under contract for another four seasons including this upcoming one.

By practically all indications, we should think that GW is thrilled with CC.  He has recruited well, been instrumental in helping to orchestrate an NIL program that has more heft than one might think and has been active in the transfer portal.  Two of his three seasons have resulted in better than anticipated conference results with the lone disappointment starting out with a gaudy OOC record followed by the roof caving in largely due to injuries.    Anyone who thinks "we need to see significant improvement in Year 4" (or CC will be asked to leave) is sorely mistaken.  Even with an AD beginning his second year at the helm (and potentially eyeing his own head coach selection one day), CC is almost as safe as a college head coach gets, at least in 2025-26.

None of this should be construed as an acceptable means for CC and staff to rest on their laurels.  There is plenty of work to be done and still plenty to accomplish.  GW has not realistically contended for a top 4 spot in the standings under CC.  It has yet to reach the semifinals in the conference tournament under CC.  Promising future big men will evaluate how GW helps develop Rafael Castro now that he's no longer a relative secret.  Will a group of promising transfers from lesser conferences be able to effectively compete at a higher level?  How does Garrett Johnson respond (yet again) to health issues?  Do players like Trey Autry, Christian Jones and Ty Bevins continue to improve?

My take?  1) I'm convinced that CC is the right man for this job.  2) As you can practically expect, I am able to both admire and question CC at the same time.  I thought he was overly loyal to veteran transfers, playing some to many minutes at the expense of perhaps further developing the freshmen on the team.  And yet, he made a conscious and difficult decision to take two players who were supposed to be the cornerstones of last year's team, Jun and Jacoi, and diminished their roles, fully realizing that both would likely leave the program as a result.  I felt this took way more courage than has been acknowledged here.

2025-26 becomes an atypical Year 4 for CC.  We all would like to see improvement, that's a given.  But will this be a prerequisite in order for CC to return as head coach in Year 5?  I just don't think so.