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Naismith College Coach of the Year

American college basketball coach award


American college basketball coach award

FieldValue
nameNaismith College Coach of the Year
descriptionthe most outstanding men's and women's basketball head coaches in NCAA Division I
presenterAtlanta Tipoff Club
countryUnited States
year1987
holderRick Pitino, [St. John's](2024-25-st-john-s-red-storm-men-s-basketball-team) (men)
Cori Close, [UCLA](2024-25-ucla-bruins-women-s-basketball-team) (women)
website

Cori Close, UCLA (women) The Naismith College Coach of the Year Award (officially known for sponsorship reasons as the Werner Ladder Naismith College Coach of the Year) is an award given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to one men's and one women's NCAA Division I head college basketball coaches each season. The award, created in 1987, was originally given to the two winning coaches of the NCAA Division I basketball tournament for the first two years of its existence. In 1989, the Naismith Award's governing board switched to a voting process to determine the winners.

The men's side has had five multiple-time winners: John Calipari and Mike Krzyzewski with three each, and Tony Bennett, Mark Few, and Jay Wright with two each. On the women's side, there have also been five multiple-time winners: Geno Auriemma with eight, Pat Summitt with five, Dawn Staley with four, and Muffet McGraw and Tara VanDerveer with three each.

Key

Winners

SeasonCoachSchoolWLW %FinishReference
[1986–87](1986-87-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[Indiana](1986-87-indiana-hoosiers-men-s-basketball-team)304*
[1987–88](1987-88-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[Kansas](1987-88-kansas-jayhawks-men-s-basketball-team)2711*
[1988–89](1988-89-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[Duke](1988-89-duke-blue-devils-men-s-basketball-team)288
[1989–90](1989-90-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[Georgia Tech](1989-90-georgia-tech-yellow-jackets-men-s-basketball-team)287
[1990–91](1990-91-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[Ohio State](1990-91-ohio-state-buckeyes-men-s-basketball-team)274
[1991–92](1991-92-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)(2)[Duke](1991-92-duke-blue-devils-men-s-basketball-team)342*author=date=December 24, 2025title=Past Winnersurl=https://naismithtrophy.com/winners/website=NaismithTrophy.comlocation=Atlanta, Georgiapublisher=Atlanta Tipoff Clubaccess-date=December 24, 2025}}
[1992–93](1992-93-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[North Carolina](1992-93-north-carolina-tar-heels-men-s-basketball-team)344*
[1993–94](1993-94-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[Arkansas](1993-94-arkansas-razorbacks-men-s-basketball-team)313*
[1994–95](1994-95-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[UCLA](1994-95-ucla-bruins-men-s-basketball-team)312*
[1995–96](1995-96-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[UMass](1995-96-umass-minutemen-basketball-team)352
[1996–97](1996-97-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[Kansas](1996-97-kansas-jayhawks-men-s-basketball-team)342
[1997–98](1997-98-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[North Carolina](1997-98-north-carolina-tar-heels-men-s-basketball-team)344
[1998–99](1998-99-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)(3)[Duke](1998-99-duke-blue-devils-men-s-basketball-team)372
[1999–00](1999-2000-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[Stanford](1999-2000-stanford-cardinal-men-s-basketball-team)274
[2000–01](2000-01-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[Ole Miss](2000-01-ole-miss-rebels-men-s-basketball-team)278
[2001–02](2001-02-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[Pittsburgh](2001-02-pittsburgh-panthers-men-s-basketball-team)296
[2002–03](2002-03-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[Kentucky](2002-03-kentucky-wildcats-men-s-basketball-team)324
[2003–04](2003-04-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[Saint Joseph's](2003-04-saint-joseph-s-hawks-men-s-basketball-team)302
[2004–05](2004-05-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[Illinois](2004-05-illinois-fighting-illini-men-s-basketball-team)372
[2005–06](2005-06-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[Villanova](2005-06-villanova-wildcats-men-s-basketball-team)285
[2006–07](2006-07-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[Washington State](2006-07-washington-state-cougars-men-s-basketball-team)268last =first =title=College Hoops – Men's Basketball Naismith Coach of the Yearurl=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1008877952newspaper=The Free Lance–Starlocation=Fredericksburg, Virginiadate=April 3, 2020page= B4via =Newspapers.comaccessdate = December 24, 2025}}
[2007–08](2007-08-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)(2)[Memphis](2007-08-memphis-tigers-men-s-basketball-team)382
[2008–09](2008-09-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[Pittsburgh](2008-09-pittsburgh-panthers-men-s-basketball-team)315
[2009–10](2009-10-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[Syracuse](2009-10-syracuse-orange-men-s-basketball-team)305
[2010–11](2010-11-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[San Diego State](2010-11-san-diego-state-aztecs-men-s-basketball-team)343
[2011–12](2011-12-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[Kansas](2011-12-kansas-jayhawks-men-s-basketball-team)327
[2012–13](2012-13-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[Miami (Florida)](2012-13-miami-hurricanes-men-s-basketball-team)297
[2013–14](2013-14-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[Wichita State](2013-14-wichita-state-shockers-men-s-basketball-team)351
[2014–15](2014-15-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)(3)[Kentucky](2014-15-kentucky-wildcats-men-s-basketball-team)381
[2015–16](2015-16-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)(2)[Villanova](2015-16-villanova-wildcats-men-s-basketball-team)355*
[2016–17](2016-17-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[Gonzaga](2016-17-gonzaga-bulldogs-men-s-basketball-team)372
[2017–18](2017-18-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)(2)[Virginia](2017-18-virginia-cavaliers-men-s-basketball-team)313
[2018–19](2018-19-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[Tennessee](2018-19-tennessee-volunteers-basketball-team)316
[2019–20](2019-20-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[Dayton](2019-20-dayton-flyers-men-s-basketball-team)292**
[2020–21](2020-21-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)(2)[Gonzaga](2020-21-gonzaga-bulldogs-men-s-basketball-team)311
[2021–22](2021-22-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[Providence](2021-22-providence-friars-men-s-basketball-team)276
[2022–23](2022-23-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[Kansas State](2022-23-kansas-state-wildcats-men-s-basketball-team)2610
[2023–24](2023-24-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[UConn](2023-24-uconn-huskies-men-s-basketball-team)373*
[2024–25](2024-25-ncaa-division-i-men-s-basketball-season)[St. John's](2024-25-st-john-s-red-storm-men-s-basketball-team)315

| | | | |

SeasonCoachSchoolWLW %FinishReference
1986–87[Tennessee](1986-87-tennessee-lady-volunteers-basketball-team)286*
1987–88[Louisiana Tech](1987-88-louisiana-tech-lady-techsters-basketball-team)322*
1988–89(2)[Tennessee](1988-89-tennessee-lady-volunteers-basketball-team)352*
1989–90[Stanford](1989-90-stanford-cardinal-women-s-basketball-team)321*
1990–91[Virginia](1990-91-virginia-cavaliers-women-s-basketball-team)313
1991–92256
1992–93[Iowa](1992-93-iowa-hawkeyes-women-s-basketball-team)274
1993–94(3)312
1994–95[UConn](1994-95-connecticut-huskies-women-s-basketball-team)350*
1995–96[Georgia](1995-96-georgia-lady-bulldogs-basketball-team)285
1996–97(2)331
1997–98(4)[Tennessee](1997-98-tennessee-lady-volunteers-basketball-team)390*
1998–99[Purdue](1998-99-purdue-boilermakers-women-s-basketball-team)341*
1999–00(3)[UConn](1999-2000-connecticut-huskies-women-s-basketball-team)361*
2000–01[Notre Dame](2000-01-notre-dame-fighting-irish-women-s-basketball-team)342*
2001–02(4)[UConn](2001-02-connecticut-huskies-women-s-basketball-team)390*
2002–03[Duke](2002-03-duke-blue-devils-women-s-basketball-team)352
2003–04(5)[Tennessee](2003-04-tennessee-lady-volunteers-basketball-team)314
2004–05[LSU](2004-05-lsu-lady-tigers-basketball-team)333
2005–06[North Carolina](2005-06-north-carolina-tar-heels-women-s-basketball-team)344
2006–07(2)322
2007–08(5)[UConn](2007-08-connecticut-huskies-women-s-basketball-team)362
2008–09(6)[UConn](2008-09-connecticut-huskies-women-s-basketball-team)390*
[2009–10](2009-10-ncaa-division-i-women-s-basketball-season)[Nebraska](2009-10-nebraska-cornhuskers-women-s-basketball-team)322
2010–11(2)[Stanford](2010-11-stanford-cardinal-women-s-basketball-team)333
2011–12[Baylor](2011-12-baylor-lady-bears-basketball-team)400*
[2012–13](2012-13-ncaa-division-i-women-s-basketball-season)(2)[Notre Dame](2012-13-notre-dame-fighting-irish-women-s-basketball-team)352last =Altavillafirst =Johntitle=Women's basketball notebookurl=https://www.newspapers.com/image/263636115newspaper=Hartford Courantlocation=Hartford, Connecticutdate=April 8, 2014page= C6via =Newspapers.comaccessdate = December 24, 2025}}
[2013–14](2013-14-ncaa-division-i-women-s-basketball-season)(3)[Notre Dame](2013-14-notre-dame-fighting-irish-women-s-basketball-team)371
[2014–15](2014-15-ncaa-division-i-women-s-basketball-season)[Princeton](2014-15-princeton-tigers-women-s-basketball-team)311
[2015–16](2015-16-ncaa-division-i-women-s-basketball-season)(7)[UConn](2015-16-uconn-huskies-women-s-basketball-team)380*last =first =title=Pregame honorsurl=https://www.newspapers.com/image/353989241newspaper=Hartford Courantlocation=Hartford, Connecticutdate=November 6, 2017page= C4via =Newspapers.comaccessdate = December 24, 2025}}
[2016–17](2016-17-ncaa-division-i-women-s-basketball-season)(8)[UConn](2016-17-uconn-huskies-women-s-basketball-team)361
[2017–18](2017-18-ncaa-division-i-women-s-basketball-season)[Mississippi State](2017-18-mississippi-state-bulldogs-women-s-basketball-team)372
[2018–19](2018-19-ncaa-division-i-women-s-basketball-season)[Iowa](2018-19-iowa-hawkeyes-women-s-basketball-team)297
[2019–20](2019-20-ncaa-division-i-women-s-basketball-season)[South Carolina](2019-20-south-carolina-gamecocks-women-s-basketball-team)321**
[2020–21](2020-21-ncaa-division-i-women-s-basketball-season)(3)[Stanford](2020-21-stanford-cardinal-women-s-basketball-team)312*
[2021–22](2021-22-ncaa-division-i-women-s-basketball-season)(2)[South Carolina](2021-22-south-carolina-gamecocks-women-s-basketball-team)352*
[2022–23](2022-23-ncaa-division-i-women-s-basketball-season)(3)[South Carolina](2022-23-south-carolina-gamecocks-women-s-basketball-team)361
[2023–24](2023-24-ncaa-division-i-women-s-basketball-season)(4)[South Carolina](2023-24-south-carolina-gamecocks-women-s-basketball-team)380*
[2024–25](2024-25-ncaa-division-i-women-s-basketball-season)[UCLA](2024-25-ucla-bruins-women-s-basketball-team)343

|}

  • On May 8, 1997, the NCAA Executive Committee voted to negate the Minutemen's 1996 NCAA tournament record, for Marcus Camby's acceptance of agents' improper gifts. The 35–2 record was reduced to 31–1, and the UMass slot in the Final Four is officially denoted as vacated.
  • An NCAA investigation determined that Derrick Rose had forfeited his eligibility because the Educational Testing Service voided his SAT Reasoning Test score which made him eligible to play. The NCAA also determined that even without the questions about Rose's SAT score, Rose would have lost his eligibility in December 2007 due to his brother being allowed to travel with the team for free. All 38 wins and one 2008 NCAA tournament loss were subsequently vacated by the NCAA for rules violations, leaving the team with an official record of 0–1.
  • The NCAA men's tournament expanded to 68 teams starting in 2011, with the last four teams earning bids into the tournament set in competition with one another via "First Four" play-in games. The 'Second Round' then became more commonly referred to as 'Round of 32' for specificity. On the women's side, 2022 was the first NCAA tournament in which 68 teams earned bids.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic caused the 2019–20 men's and women's seasons to be canceled prior to any national postseason tournaments occurring.

References

References

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  73. (April 1, 2022). "Boston, Staley earn national honors". [[The Times and Democrat]].
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  75. Haltom, Rodney. (April 11, 2024). "South Carolina wins 2024 women's national title". Eufaula Indian Journal.
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  79. Hall, Cora. (November 2, 2025). "Why Barnes has concerns about NCAA tournament expansion". Knoxville News Sentinel.
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