One of the most successful coaches in the recent history of the Washington Huskies men's basketball team was reportedly up for a return to the college ranks this offseason.

It was reported that former Huskies head coach Mike Hopkins was the "favorite" for the head coaching job with the Siena College Saints, which was vacated by fellow Syracuse Orange alum Gerry McNamara after the latter took the head coaching job at the pair's alma mater.

A report on Sunday said that Hopkins was out of the running to take over for the Saints. More information was provided on the circumstances behind the development Monday.

According to a report on "X" from WNYT and WTMM ESPN Radio reporter Rodger Wyland, Hopkins was offered the job with Siena over the weekend but he formally turned it down on Monday.

Currently, the Saints are focusing on Vermont head coach John Becker and Marquette assistant Nevada Smith as the two leading candidates.

Hopkins has spent the last two seasons in the NBA after a seven-season stint at Washington.

While with the Huskies, Hopkins led the program to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) and the NCAA tournament once apiece, respectively. UW's NCAA tourney berth in 2019 remains the last time Washington has advanced to March Madness.

Hopkins won the Pac-12 Coach of the Year award twice in his first two years with the Huskies but failed to return the Dawgs back to the same status in his final five seasons as head coach.

After the 2018-19 season, in which Washington finished 27-9, the team failed to post a record better than 17-15 during Hopkins' tenure. It was announced that he wouldn't return to the team March 8, 2024. He had a 118-106 record as the head coach in the Pacific Northwest.

Hopkins ended up making a jump in levels after his departure from the Huskies. He spent the 2024-25 season as an assist with the Phoenix Suns and is currently serving as an assistant and the head of player development with the New Orleans Pelicans.

It's unclear whether or not Hopkins' denial of the Saints job means he will be remaining in the NBA ranks or taking his talents to a different corner of the college basketball world.

As mentioned before, former Siena College coach and fellow Syracuse alum McNamara recently took over as head coach of the Orange.

Both Hopkins and McNamara were on the same staff with Syracuse from 2009-2017. 

Hopkins could be waiting out to take a role on McNamara's staff or could be waiting for a more enticing head coaching job to potentially open up in the future.

Whatever the reason for Hopkins' decision, it will now likely be a longer wait before he returns to the sidelines in a head coaching capacity.

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