The Naismith College Coach of the Year Trophy honors outstanding NCAA Division I men's basketball coaches. Named after Dr. James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, the award recognizes coaches for their leadership, success, and impact on their teams. Instituted in 1987, the trophy celebrates coaches with exceptional skills in guiding their players on and off the court. Winners exemplify coaching excellence, strategic prowess, and the ability to inspire athletes to reach their full potential. The Naismith College Coach of the Year Trophy is a prestigious acknowledgment of coaching brilliance and serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of Dr. Naismith's game.
List of Players with most Naismith College Coach of the Year Trophy
The Naismith College Coach of the Year Award recognizes exceptional NCAA Division I basketball coaching prowess. Among the most decorated recipients, John Calipari and Mike Krzyzewski lead the men's category with three trophies each. Not far behind are Tony Bennett, Mark Few, and Jay Wright, each securing two accolades. Geno Auriemma boasts an impressive eight awards on the women's side, followed by Pat Summitt with five. Dawn Staley, Muffet McGraw, and Tara VanDerveer have each claimed the honor three times, cementing their legacies in collegiate coaching. These esteemed individuals are ideals of leadership and achievement in the basketball community.
| Year | Men's Coach | College |
| 1986–87 | Bob Knight | Indiana |
| 1987–88 | Larry Brown | Kansas |
| 1988–89 | Mike Krzyzewski | Duke |
| 1989–90 | Bobby Cremins | Georgia Tech |
| 1990–91 | Randy Ayers | Ohio State |
| 1991–92 | Mike Krzyzewski | Duke |
| 1992–93 | Dean Smith | North Carolina |
| 1993–94 | Nolan Richardson | Arkansas |
| 1994–95 | Jim Harrick | UCLA |
| 1995–96 | John Calipari | UMass |
| 1996–97 | Roy Williams | Kansas |
| 1997–98 | Bill Guthridge | North Carolina |
| 1998–99 | Mike Krzyzewski | Duke |
| 1999–2000 | Mike Montgomery | Stanford |
| 2000–01 | Rod Barnes | Ole Miss |
| 2001–02 | Ben Howland | Pittsburgh |
| 2002–03 | Tubby Smith | Kentucky |
| 2003–04 | Phil Martelli | Saint Joseph's |
| 2004–05 | Bruce Weber | Illinois |
| 2005–06 | Jay Wright | Villanova |
| 2006–07 | Tony Bennett | Washington State |
| 2007–08 | John Calipari | Memphis |
| 2008–09 | Jamie Dixon | Pittsburgh |
| 2009–10 | Jim Boeheim | Syracuse |
| 2010–11 | Steve Fisher | San Diego State |
| 2011–12 | Bill Self | Kansas |
| 2012–13 | Jim Larrañaga | Miami (FL) |
| 2013–14 | Gregg Marshall | Wichita State |
| 2014–15 | John Calipari | Kentucky |
| 2015–16 | Jay Wright | Villanova |
| 2016–17 | Mark Few | Gonzaga |
| 2017–18 | Tony Bennett | Virginia |
| 2018–19 | Rick Barnes | Tennessee |
| 2019–20 | Anthony Grant | Dayton |
| 2020–21 | Mark Few | Gonzaga |
| 2021–22 | Ed Cooley | Providence |
| 2022–23 | Jerome Tang | Kansas State |
FAQ's On List of Players with most Naismith College Coach of the Year Trophy
A. The trophy is named after Dr. James Naismith, the inventor of basketball.
A. Coaches can win the trophy multiple times. Some have won it three times.
A. John Calipari and Mike Krzyzewski lead with three awards each.
A. Geno Auriemma has won the award an impressive eight times.
A. The trophy was first instituted in 1987 to honor outstanding NCAA Division I men's basketball coaches.
