(release from collegeinsider.com)
BOSTON, MA — CollegeInsider.com has announced the finalists for the 2025-26 Jim Phelan award. The award is presented annually to the top head coach in division I college basketball.
JIM PHELAN AWARD FINALISTS
| Randy Bennett | Saint Mary’s |
| Johnny Dawkins | UCF |
| Todd Golden | Florida |
| Fred Hoiberg | Nebraska |
| Chris Holtmann | DePaul |
| Dan Hurley | UConn |
| Tom Izzo | Michigan State |
| Tommy Lloyd | Arizona |
| Jai Lucas | Miami |
| Mike Magpayo | Fordham |
| Dusty May | Michigan |
| Grant McCasland | Texas Tech |
| Ritchie McKay | Liberty |
| Ryan Odom | Virginia |
| Jon Perry | Navy |
| Rick Pitino | St. John’s |
| Kelvin Sampson | Houston |
| Josh Schertz | Saint Louis |
| Jon Scheyer | Duke |
| Travis Steele | Miami |
The Jim Phelan Award is named in honor of a legendary bow-tied coach who spent his entire head coaching career at Mount Saint Mary’s University.
Phelan graduated from La Salle University in 1951 and played one season in the NBA with the Philadelphia Warriors. After a brief professional career, Phelan went to Mount St. Mary’s as an assistant in 1953. One year later he began his historical career as a head coach.
He led the Mountaineers to 16 Division II NCAA tournaments. Five times they advanced to the Final Four and he led them to the DII National Championship in 1962.
When he retired in 2003, after coaching for 49 years, he had amassed 830 wins (overall record of 830-524) in all divisions. In those 49 years, 19 of his teams amassed 20 or more wins in a season.
In 2008 he was inducted into National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.
Phelan passed away on June 15, 2021 at the age of 92 at his home in Emmitsburg, MD.
The recipient of the annual award is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of collegeinsider.com.
The 2026 award will be announced in Indianapolis, IN, site of the men’s Division I Basketball Championship.
