The Naismith Awards, which is named after the basketball inventor Dr. James Naismith, are some of the highest honors in college football. It was first given in 1969 to UCLA's Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). The trophy was designed and sculpted by Atlanta artist Marty C. Dawe. The Naismith Trophy has since expanded to honor not just college players but also coaches, high school players, and defensive stars. The Women's Player of the Year award first emerged in 1983, followed by the introduction of the Coach of the Year awards in 1987. The awards are now determined through a meticulous selection process operated by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors and national voting academy composed of coaches, administrators, and media members.
Every season, there is a ‘Naismith Watch’ list of 50 best players that is later narrowed down to 30 midseason contenders and four finalists before the national Player of the Year in both men's and women's college basketball is named. The awards have, over time, been extended to involve high school players and coaches and defensive standouts in college, among them awards such as the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year (inaugurated in 2018). These awards continue to honor exemplary work in basketball nationwide.
Naismith College Women Coach of the Year
The Naismith College Women's Coach of the Year Award is given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club and is awarded to the best NCAA Division I women's basketball coach every year. Since 1989, the winner has been chosen through a vote. Iconic coaches such as Geno Auriemma, who won it eight times, Pat Summitt, and Dawn Staley have won the award more than once. Cori Close won the 2025 Naismith College Women's Coach of the Year Award.
Naismith College Women Coach of the Year Winners
| Year | Women’s Coach | College |
| 1986–87 | Pat Summitt | Tennessee |
| 1987–88 | Leon Barmore | Louisiana Tech |
| 1988–89 | Pat Summitt (2) | Tennessee |
| 1989–90 | Tara VanDerveer | Stanford |
| 1990–91 | Debbie Ryan | Virginia |
| 1991–92 | Chris Weller | Maryland |
| 1992–93 | C. Vivian Stringer | Iowa |
| 1993–94 | Pat Summitt (3) | Tennessee |
| 1994–95 | Geno Auriemma | UConn |
| 1995–96 | Andy Landers | Georgia |
| 1996–97 | Geno Auriemma (2) | UConn |
| 1997–98 | Pat Summitt (4) | Tennessee |
| 1998–99 | Carolyn Peck | Purdue |
| 1999–2000 | Geno Auriemma (3) | UConn |
| 2000–01 | Muffet McGraw | Notre Dame |
| 2001–02 | Geno Auriemma (4) | UConn |
| 2002–03 | Gail Goestenkors | Duke |
| 2003–04 | Pat Summitt (5) | Tennessee |
| 2004–05 | Pokey Chatman | LSU |
| 2005–06 | Sylvia Hatchell | North Carolina |
| 2006–07 | Gail Goestenkors (2) | Duke |
| 2007–08 | Geno Auriemma (5) | UConn |
| 2008–09 | Geno Auriemma (6) | UConn |
| 2009–10 | Connie Yori | Nebraska |
| 2010–11 | Tara VanDerveer (2) | Stanford |
| 2011–12 | Kim Mulkey | Baylor |
| 2012–13 | Muffet McGraw (2) | Notre Dame |
| 2013–14 | Muffet McGraw (3) | Notre Dame |
| 2014–15 | Courtney Banghart | Princeton |
| 2015–16 | Geno Auriemma (7) | UConn |
| 2016–17 | Geno Auriemma (8) | UConn |
| 2017–18 | Vic Schaefer | Mississippi State |
| 2018–19 | Lisa Bluder | Iowa |
| 2019–20 | Dawn Staley | South Carolina |
| 2020–21 | Tara VanDerveer (3) | Stanford |
| 2021–22 | Dawn Staley (2) | South Carolina |
| 2022–23 | Dawn Staley (3) | South Carolina |
| 2023–24 | Dawn Staley (4) | South Carolina |
| 2024-25 | Cori Close | UCLA |
FAQs on Naismith Award
A. The Naismith Award is an annual award given to the top men’s and women’s college basketball players.
A. The Atlanta Tipoff Club presents the Naismith Award.
A. The first Naismith Award was presented in 1969.
A. Zach Edey (Purdue) and Caitlin Clark (Iowa) won the Naismith Award in 2024.
