Story: AJ Nelson, Senior Staff Writer, HoopDirt.com
BOSTON, MA – The following college basketball coaches have received the Week 2 HoopDirt.com Coach of the Week Award presented by Just Play Solutions. These coaches are now eligible to receive the HoopDirt.com National Coach of the Year Award presented by Just Play Solutions which will be announced at the conclusion of the 2024-25 college basketball season.
This is the tenth season that HoopDirt.com has run the Coach of the Week and Coach of the Year programs. The list of all-time COY winners can be found following this week’s honorees.
To nominate coaches for future weeks, please email [email protected] with your selection(s).
The week 2 winners are:
NCAA D1: Bill Self – Kansas
With a win over Michigan State in the Champions Classic this week, Coach Self became the all-time winningest coach in program history. Self’s top-ranked Jayhawks took down the Spartans by a score of 77-69 in Atlanta on Tuesday, moving his record to an incredible 591-143 in 22 seasons at the helm of the program and surpassing the legendary Phog Allen in career wins with Kansas. A 78-57 home win over Oakland on Saturday extended Self’s record and pushed the Jayhawks to 4-0 on the season. Kansas is back in action on Tuesday, when they will face off against UNC Wilmington at home.
NCAA D2: Jim Crutchfield – Nova Southeastern
Following up on a 2022 DII National Championship and another National Championship Game appearance last season, Coach Crutchfield’s Sharks picked up another impressive victory this week to improve to 5-0 on the season. #2 Nova Southeastern defeated Walsh, who received votes in the initial NABC Coaches’ Poll, by a score of 101-57 at home on Friday. The win was already the Sharks’ fourth this season over an opponent who was either nationally ranked or received votes in the top-25 poll. With the victory, Nova Southeastern has continued to surpass the 100-point mark in each of its games so far this season. Coach Crutchfield’s high-powered offense returns to the floor on Wednesday, when they will take on Florida National at home.
NCAA D3: Steve Schweer – Illinois College
Coach Schweer guided Illinois College to three wins this week, including a pair of thrilling come-from-behind victories to stay unbeaten on the season. The Blueboys, who received votes in the preseason D3Hoops.com Top-25 Poll, put on a strong performance on Monday, defeating Blackburn 76-58 on the road before heading home to host the annual Bill Merris Invitational. Coach Schweer’s squad trailed Concordia by as many as 14 in the first half on Friday, but rallied to come away with an 81-79 victory. Another comeback was in order the following afternoon, as the Blueboys found themselves down 10 with just over 10 minutes remaining against No. 14 Nebraska Wesleyan before an 18-2 run put the game away and led them to an eventual 66-57 win. Now 4-0 on the season, Illinois College will play its third of six consecutive home games when it takes on Millikin on Wednesday night.
NAIA: Tony Romero – Central Christian College
Coach Romero’s Tigers opened conference play with a pair of hard-fought road victories this week to remain perfect on the season. After trailing by four at the half at Oklahoma Panhandle State on Thursday, Central Christian outscored the Aggies 51-34 across the final 20 minutes to come away with an 82-68 triumph. The Tigers followed this up on Saturday with a 60-58 victory over Wayland Baptist, who was fresh off a victory over No. 1 in the country Langston University. Coach Romero and Central Christian will look to move to 7-0 on the season when they take on Mid-America Christian on the road on Monday.
JUCO: Hunter Jenkins – Frank Phillips College
In just his first season at Frank Phillips College, Coach Jenkins has the Plainsmen playing their best basketball in years. Hosting the Borger Chamber of Commerce Classic, Frank Phillips took down Trinidad State by a score of 88-56 on Thursday and defeated Ranger College 78-72 on Saturday. With the victories, Coach Jenkins’ Plainsmen improved to 6-1 on the season, already surpassing last year’s win total. Additionally, Frank Phillips currently holds the #22 spot in the most recent NJCAA DI top-25 poll, marking the first time since 2006 that the Plainsmen have been nationally ranked. Frank Phillips will now travel to take on Dallas College North Lake in the Texan Classic on Friday evening.
Last season’s weekly winners:
2023-24 HoopDirt.com / Just Play Solutions Coach of the Week Winners
NCAA DI: Mark Byington – James Madison University
NCAA DII: Alfred Jordan – Clark Atlanta University
NCAA DIII: Caleb Kimbrough – Hampden-Sydney College
NAIA: Darnell Archey – University of Mobile
JUCO: Kris Baumann – Odessa College
NCAA DI: Ritchie McKay – Liberty University
NCAA DII: Mark Kuntz – Post University
NCAA DIII: Eric Bridgeland – University of Redlands
NAIA: Dannton Jackson – Talladega College
JUCO: Dillon Hargrove – National Park College
NCAA DI: David Ragland – Evansville University
NCAA DII: Jordan Fee – Gannon University
NCAA DIII: Anthony Medina – University of St. Thomas (TX)
NAIA: Chase Teichmann – Florida College
JUCO: Hayden Sowers – South Plains College
NCAA DI: Damon Stoudamire – Georgia Tech
NCAA DII: John Ellenwood – Ashland University
NCAA DIII: Brandon Linton – Tufts University
NAIA: Matt O’Brien – Southwestern College
JUCO: Darren Stratton – Northern Essex CC
NCAA DI: Bryce Drew – Grand Canyon University
NCAA DII: Bob Pietrack – Fort Lewis College
NCAA DIII: Michael McSloy – Drew University
NAIA: Tigh Compton – University of Pikeville
JUCO: Terrell Harris – Prince George’s CC
NCAA DI: Danny Sprinkle – Utah State University
NCAA DII: Artis Mattox – Benedict College
NCAA DIII: Dave Macedo – Virginia Wesleyan University
NAIA: Chris Wright – Langston University
JUCO: Joey Cantens – Daytona State College
Week 7
NCAA DI: Christmas Holiday – no winner selected
NCAA DII: Christmas Holiday – no winner selected
NCAA DIII: Christmas Holiday – no winner selected
NAIA: Christmas Holiday – no winner selected
JUCO: Christmas Holiday – no winner selected
NCAA DI: Shaka Smart – Marquette University
NCAA DII: Bryan Rooney – Cal State East Bay
NCAA DIII: Todd McGuinness – Case Western Reserve University
NAIA: Scott Moore – Grace College
JUCO: Steve DeMeo – Northwest Florida State College
NCAA DI: Shaheen Holloway – Seton Hall University
NCAA DII: Matt Majkrzak – Northern Michigan University
NCAA DIII: Jimmy Smith – Trinity College (TX)
NAIA: Josh Pickens – Lawrence Tech
JUCO: Matt Lee – Herkimer College
NCAA DI: Darian DeVries – Drake University
NCAA DII: Dave Moore – University of West Georgia
NCAA DIII: D.P. Harris – Saint Vincent College
NAIA: Dee Brown – Roosevelt University
JUCO: Ryan Miley – Hocking College
NCAA DI: Amir Abdur-Rahim – University of South Florida
NCAA DII: Mike Nestor – Lock Haven University
NCAA DIII: Dave Klatsky – NYU
NAIA: Robert Ford – Saint Xavier University
JUCO: Donnie Tyndall – Chipola College
NCAA DI: Lamont Paris – University of South Carolina
NCAA DII: Vinay Patel – Angelo State University
NCAA DIII: Matt Hunter – York College (PA)
NAIA: Josh Gamblin – Mid-America Christian University
JUCO: Nick Ramos – Rock Valley College
NCAA DI: Alan Huss – High Point
NCAA DII: Justin Wieck – Minnesota Duluth
NCAA DIII: Josh Merkel – Randolph-Macon College
NAIA: Delton Deal – Southwestern Assemblies of God University
JUCO: Robert Byrd – Kilgore College
NCAA DI: Grant Billmeier – NJIT
NCAA DII: Tom Brown – West Texas A&M
NCAA DIII: Don Friday – Penn State Harrisburg
NAIA: Marcus “Chief” Bryant – Keiser University
JUCO: Mike Smelkinson – Howard Community College
NCAA DI: Dan Hurley – UConn
NCAA DII: Mac McConnell – Texas A&M International
NCAA DIII: B.J. Dunne – Gettysburg College
NAIA: Kory Alford – Huntington University
JUCO: Franklin Chatman – Paul D. Camp Community College
Previous HoopDirt.com Coach of the Year Award Winners:
Division I
- 2022-23: Jerome Tang – Kansas State University
- 2021-22: Ed Cooley – Providence College
- 2020-21: Dennis Gates – Cleveland State University
- 2019-20: Joe Gallo – Merrimack College
- 2018-19: Kelvin Sampson – University of Houston
- 2017-18: Porter Moser – Loyola University Chicago
- 2016-17: Chris Collins – Northwestern University
- 2015-16: Roy Williams – University of North Carolina
Division II
- 2023-24:
- 2022-23: Jim Crutchfield – Nova Southeastern
- 2021-22: Jim Crutchfield – Nova Southeastern
- 2020-21: Ben McCollum – Northwest Missouri State
- 2019-20: Fred Watson – Miles College
- 2018-19: Ben McCollum – Northwest Missouri State
- 2017-18: Andy Bronkema – Ferris State
- 2016-17: Ben McCollum – Northwest Missouri State
- 2015-16: Josh Schertz – Lincoln Memorial University
Division III
- 2022-23: John Krikorian – Christopher Newport University
- 2021-22: Brian Baptiste – UMass Dartmouth
- 2020-21: Brooks Miller – Trine University
- 2019-20: Elliot Steinmetz – Yeshiva University
- 2018-19: Dale Wellman – Nebraska Wesleyan University
- 2017-18: Eric Bridgeland – Whitman College
- 2016-17: Stephen Brennan – Babson College
- 2015-16: John Tauer – University of St. Thomas
NAIA
- 2022-23: Chris Wright – Langston University
- 2021-22: Stacy Hollowell – Loyola University New Orleans
- 2020-21: Delano Thomas – Shawnee State University
- 2019-20: Colby Blaine – College of Idaho
- 2018-19: Chris Briggs – Georgetown College
- 2017-18: Craig Doty – Graceland University
- 2016-17: Kevin Burton – Union College
- 2015-16: Larry Cordaro – LSU-Alexandria
JUCO
- 2022-23: Rick Cabrera – Tallahassee Community College
- 2021-22: Greg Heiar – Northwest Florida State
- 2020-21: COVID Season – No winner selected
- 2019-20: Randy Casey – Milwaukee Area Technical College
- 2018-19: Billy Gillispie – Ranger College
- 2017-18: Paul Cisek – Brookdale Community College
- 2016-17: Todd Lorensen – Southwestern Community College
- 2015-16: Craig Doty – Rock Valley College
USCAA
- 2018-19: LeShawn Hammett – Penn State Wilkes-Barre
