Story: AJ Nelson, Senior Staff Writer, HoopDirt.com
BOSTON, MA – The following college basketball coaches have been named recipients of the Week 15 HoopDirt.com Coach of the Week Award, presented by Just Play Solutions. These coaches are now eligible for the HoopDirt.com National Coach of the Year Award, also presented by Just Play Solutions, which will be announced at the end of the 2024-25 college basketball season.
This marks the tenth season of the HoopDirt.com Coach of the Week and Coach of the Year programs. The list of 2024-25 weekly winners, as well as the all-time COY recipients can be found below this week’s release.
To nominate coaches for future weeks, please email [email protected] with your selection(s).
The week 15 winners are:
NCAA D1: Tony Skinn – George Mason University
Coach Skinn led George Mason to a pair of hard-fought victories this week as the Patriots continued to make program history. On Tuesday, George Mason defeated Saint Louis 76-74 on the road in overtime, improving to 11-1 in conference play for the first time in program history. Back in action on Saturday, the Patriots fought back from a 16-point first half deficit against Saint Joseph’s to come away with a 58-57 triumph. With the win, George Mason reached the 21-win mark for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign. Now 21-5 on the season, the Patriots will look to extend their winning streak to 12 when they visit VCU on Saturday.
NCAA D2: Jeremiah Samarrippas – Lincoln Memorial University
Coach Samarrippas guided Lincoln Memorial to two blowout victories this week, including one over a fellow ranked opponent. The 7th-ranked Railsplitters opened the week on the road, shooting an incredible 64.9% from the field in a 102-84 victory over Emory & Henry. Lincoln Memorial then returned home for a showdown with No. 16 Lenoir-Rhyne, who entered the matchup a half-game behind the conference-leading Railsplitters. The hosts jumped out to a 12-point halftime lead and never looked back, coming away with an 87-59 victory to avenge a January loss to Lenoir-Rhyne and extend their winning streak to six. Now 20-3 (18-2 SAC) on the season, the Railsplitters will hit the road to take on UVA Wise on Wednesday night.
NCAA D3: Dan Kane – University of Maine at Presque Isle
The last weekend of the regular season was one to remember for Coach Kane, as he picked up a milestone victory in the same game that his Owls set the record for most wins in a season in program history. UMPI trailed Maine Maritime by 11 with just over five minutes remaining on the road on Saturday before fighting to get back to a one-point deficit with 10.4 seconds remaining. The Owls then knocked down a jump shot with four seconds left to secure a 67-66 victory. Back in action the following day, UMPI defeated Thomas 88-85 to pick up win No. 20 on the campaign and set a new program record for wins in a season. The victory also marked the 100th in Coach Kane’s eight-year career at UMPI. His Owls now await an opponent for their NAC Tournament quarterfinal game on Friday.
NAIA: Marcus Bryant – Keiser University
Coach Bryant’s Seahawks had an eventful week, winning three games in blowout fashion, including one over a ranked opponent. No. 25 Keiser began its week by putting on a pair of offensive showcases on the road, defeating Coastal Georgia 100-49 on Monday and Webber International 100-65 on Wednesday. The Seahawks then returned home to host No. 16 Ave Maria in a battle of the top two teams in the Sun Conference. Keiser held the visitors to just 69 points – well under their season average of 96.3 – in an 84-69 triumph. The win marked No. 22 on the season for the Seahawks – their most in Coach Bryant’s five-year tenure. Keiser next travels to take on No. 20 Florida Memorial in their final road game of the regular season on Wednesday.
JUCO: Darren Stratton – Northern Essex Community College
Coach Stratton’s Knights extended their winning streak to 21 games this week with another pair of victories. No. 8 Northern Essex began its week with a top-10 showdown, hosting 9th-ranked Quincy College on Tuesday. The Knights trailed by 14 with just over 17 minutes remaining, but went on to close the game on a 50-23 run to take an 82-69 triumph. Back in action on Saturday, Northern Essex defeated UConn Avery Point 109-90, marking the Knights’ 46th consecutive home victory. Now 23-2 on the season, Northern Essex will next host Bunker Hill on Monday afternoon.
2024-25 HoopDirt.com / Just Play Solutions Coach of the Week Winners
Week 1
Early season – no winners selected.
NCAA DI: Bill Self – Kansas
NCAA DII: Jim Crutchfield – Nova Southeastern
NCAA DIII: Steve Schweer – Illinois College
NAIA: Tony Romero – Central Christian College
JUCO: Hunter Jenkins – Frank Phillips College
NCAA DI: Ben McCollum – Drake University
NCAA DII: Justin Namolik – Shepherd University
NCAA DIII: B.J. Dunne – Gettysburg College
NAIA: Steve Drabyn – Bethel University (IN)
JUCO: Kyle Pugh – Cloud County Community College
NCAA DI: Bruce Pearl – Auburn University
NCAA DII: Ben Wilkins – Seton Hill University
NCAA DIII: Chris Bartley – Worcester Polytechnic Institute
NAIA: Tigh Compton – University of Pikeville
JUCO: Joey Cantens – Daytona State College
NCAA DI: Dennis Gates – University of Missouri
NCAA DII: Michael Lamberti – Coker University
NCAA DIII: Kent Dernbach – University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point
NAIA: Clint Galyean – Wayland Baptist University
JUCO: Cole Dewey – Indian Hills Community College
NCAA DI: Anthony Grant – University of Dayton
NCAA DII: Matt Healing – Pace University
NCAA DIII: Jesse DeLoof – University of Pittsburgh at Bradford
NAIA: Brian Van Haaften – Dordt University
JUCO: Luke Mackay – New Mexico Junior College
Week 7
Winter Break – No winners selected
Week 8
Winter Break – No winners selected
NCAA DI: Chris Crutchfield – University of Nebraska Omaha
NCAA DII: Bill Walker – Missouri University of Science and Technology
NCAA DIII: John Krikorian – Christopher Newport University
NAIA: Bill Dreikosen – Rocky Mountain College
JUCO: Andrew May – Snow College
Week 10
NCAA DI: Mike White – University of Georgia
NCAA DII: Easton Bazzoli – Gannon University
NCAA DIII: Michael McSloy – Drew University
NAIA: Jesse McClung – Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
JUCO: Kyle Isaacs – Arizona Western College
Week 11
NCAA DI: Pat Kelsey – University of Louisville
NCAA DII: Mike MacDonald – Daemen University
NCAA DIII: Brandon Linton – Tufts University
NAIA: Jordan Ashton – William Woods University
JUCO: Pete Pena – Pensacola State College
NCAA DI: Daniyal Robinson – Cleveland State University
NCAA DII: Brent Owen – Lenoir-Rhyne University
NCAA DIII: Jean Bain – Brandeis University
NAIA: Josh Gamblin – Mid-America Christian University
JUCO: Brian Peabody – Pima Community College
NCAA DI: Jerome Tang – Kansas State University
NCAA DII: Brett Ballard – Washburn University
NCAA DIII: Joe Reilly – Wesleyan University
NAIA: Delton Deal – Nelson University
JUCO: Matt Lynch – University of South Carolina Salkehatchie
NCAA DI: Rick Pitino – St. John’s University
NCAA DII: Blake Flickner – Dallas Baptist University
NCAA DIII: Steve Djurickovic – Carthage College
NAIA: Jeff Britt – Bethel University (TN)
JUCO: Brennan McCarthy – Northampton 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
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About Just Play Solutions
Just Play Solutions has become the market leader in coaches’ workflow. A platform to help coaches prepare playbooks, automate scouting reports, research analytics, integrate and distribute video, manage recruiting workflow, and organize recruiting schedules. The end-to-end platform is used by over 700 customers across the country and internationally in football, basketball.
