Men’s basketball NIT announces new committee leadership

INDIANAPOLIS — The 2026 National Invitation Tournament committee gears up for an unforgettable basketball celebration as it announces new committee leadership for the 2025-26 season. Jeff Jones, former Old Dominion head men’s basketball coach was named chair of the NIT committee, and Clifton Douglass, Conference USA Associate Commissioner for Basketball was named vice chair. Additionally, Kermit Davis, former Ole Miss head men’s basketball coach, and Kelley Ford, Horizon League Senior Associate Commissioner for Basketball & Analytics have joined the NIT committee.

Jones served as a member of the NIT committee for the 2024-25 season. Prior, he spent 32 years as a college head coach and tallied a 560-418 record at Virginia, American and Old Dominion. Jones has postseason experiences, leading his teams to 10 appearances in the NCAA tournament or NIT. His 1992 Virginia team won the NIT Championship, and he guided Old Dominion to the NIT semifinal in 2015. Jones was named Patriot League Coach of the Year in 2002 and 2009 and was also tabbed Conference USA Coach of the Year in 2019.

Douglass also served as a member of the NIT committee for the 2024-25 season. He joined the Conference USA staff in 2016 and became associate commissioner for basketball in 2021. In addition to his basketball responsibilities, Douglass provides oversight for women’s soccer and women’s golf. Douglass also served as chair of the NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Committee for two years.

Most recently the head men’s basketball coach at Ole Miss from 2018-23, Davis joins the NIT committee holding a 477-317 record that spans over a 25-year career at Idaho, Texas A&M, Middle Tennessee St. and Ole Miss. Davis was named conference coach of the year by the Big Sky in 1989, the Sun Belt in 2003, Conference USA in 2017 and the SEC in 2019. He made nine appearances in the NCAA tournament or NIT as head coach.

Ford has been at the Horizon League since 2017 where he oversees strategic league initiatives including media rights, membership analysis, men’s soccer and both men’s and women’s basketball.

The 88th NIT will continue to feature a 32-team field with the first round, second round and quarterfinals played at campus sites. For the fifth year, the 2026 NIT will only seed the top four teams in each pod and place the remaining 16 teams selected into the bracket geographically where possible.

The 2026 NIT will take place in Indianapolis, along with all three divisional basketball championships. Selections, pairings and the bracket will be announced March 15 with games beginning Tuesday, March 17. The NIT semifinals will be played at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse on April 2, and the championship will be played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on April 5.

All NIT games will be broadcast live across ESPN platforms. For more information on the championship visit ncaa.com/NIT.