Named in honor of the late legendary Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt, the WBCA each year presents the Pat Summitt Trophy to the Coach of the Year in each of the six membership divisions – NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA, two-year college and high school. The criteria in order of priority are:
- Team success during the current season.
- Team improvement from the previous season.
- Fulfillment of team potential.
- Professional manner and attitude of coach.
Click below to submit your nomination(s) and/or vote. Login is required.
Eligibility
Every WBCA member collegiate and high school head coach is eligible to be nominated for Coach of the Year in their respective membership division.
Nomination
Any WBCA member collegiate and high school coach (head or assistant) may nominate online an eligible head coach for Coach of the Year.
Selection
- Member voting. Member head coaches vote online by region (a grouping of conferences) for the nominees in NCAA DI, DII, DIII and NAIA. The nominee who receives the most votes in a region is the region finalist for Coach of the Year. There is no regional voting in the two-year college or high school divisions.
- Final selection. In each four-year collegiate division (NCAA DI, DII, DIII and NAIA), an awards committee composed of head coaches elected by their peers selects the Coach of the Year from the region finalists. NCAA Division III includes its national semifinal coaches as at-large finalists. In the two-year college and high school divisions, the awards committees select their respective Coaches of the Year from all nominees submitted.
Past Honorees
NCAA Division I
2024 — Dawn Staley, South Carolina
2023 — Dawn Staley, South Carolina
2022 — Dawn Staley, South Carolina
2021 — Wes Moore, NC State
2020 — Dawn Staley, South Carolina
2019 — Kim Mulkey, Baylor
2018 — Vic Schaefer, Mississippi State
2017 — Geno Auriemma, Connecticut
2016 — Geno Auriemma, Connecticut
2015 — Sue Semrau, Florida State
2014 — Muffet McGraw, Notre Dame
2013 — Muffet McGraw, Notre Dame
2012 — Kim Mulkey, Baylor
2011 — Tara VanDerveer, Stanford
2010 — Connie Yori, Nebraska
2009 — Geno Auriemma, Connecticut
2008 — Geno Auriemma, Connecticut
2007 — Gail Goestenkors, Duke
2006 — Sylvia Hatchell, North Carolina
2005 — Pokey Chatman, LSU
2004 — Rene Portland, Penn State
2003 — Gail Goestenkors, Duke
2002 — Geno Auriemma, Connecticut
2001 — Muffet McGraw, Notre Dame
2000 — Geno Auriemma, Connecticut
1999 — Carolyn Peck, Purdue
1998 — Pat Summitt, Tennessee
1997 — Geno Auriemma, Connecticut
1996 — Leon Barmore, Louisiana Tech
1995 — Pat Summitt, Tennessee
1994 — Marsha Sharp, Texas Tech
1993 — C. Vivian Stringer, Rutgers
1992 — Ferne Labati, Miami (FL)
1991 — Rene Portland, Penn State
1990 — Kay Yow, NC State
1989 — Tara VanDerveer, Stanford
1988 — C. Vivian Stringer, Iowa
1987 — Theresa Grentz, Rutgers
1986 — Jody Conradt, Texas
1985 — Jim Foster, St. Joseph’s
1984 — Jody Conradt, Texas
1983 — Pat Summitt, Tennessee
NCAA Division II
2024 — Hana Haden, Georgia Southwestern
2023 — Kari Pickens, Ashland
2022 — Kim Stephens, Glenville State
2021 — Amy Eagan, Drury
2020 — Molly Miller, Drury
2019 — Molly Miller, Drury
2018 — Robyn Fralick, Ashland
2017 — Robyn Fralick, Ashland
2016 — Steve Gomez, Lubbock Christian
2015 — Lisa Carlsen, Lewis
2014 — Barbara Stevens, Bentley
2013 — Barbara Stevens, Bentley
2012 — Sue Ramsay, Ashland
2011 — Dennis Cox, Clayton State
2010 — Cleve Wright, Gannon
2009 — Todd Starkey, Lenoir-Rhyne
2008 — Chad Lavin, South Dakota
2007 — Steve Harold, Glenville State
2006 — Glenn Wilkes Jr., Rollins
2005 — Dawn Plitzuweit, Grand Valley State
2004 — Gordy Presnell, Seattle Pacific
2003 — Gorgy Presnell, Seattle Pacific
2002 — Kris Huffman, DePauw
2001 — Barbara Stevens, Bentley
2000 — Nancy Winstel, Northern Kentucky
1999 — Barbara Stevens, Bentley
1998 — Cindy Stein, Emporia State
1997 — Bob Schneider, West Texas A&M
1996 — Suzanne Fox, Abilene Christian
1995 — Jorja Hoehn, UC Davis
1994 — Paula Sullivan, Stonehill
1993 — Amy Ruley, North Dakota State
1992 — Barbara Stevens, Bentley
1991 — James Sweat, Norfolk State
1990 — Darlene May, Cal Poly Pomona
1989 — Jane Williamson, West Georgia
1988 — Darlene May, Cal Poly Pomona
1987 — Nancy Winstel, Northern Kentucky
1986 — Brenda Reilly, Central Connecticut State
1985 — Jorja Hoehn, Central Missouri State
1984 — Linda Makowski, Dayton
1983 — Jorja Hoehn, Central Missouri State
NCAA Division III
2024 — Juli Fulks, Transylvania
2023 — Lynn Hersey, Smith
2022 — Meg Barber, NYU
2021 — Brian Morehouse, Hope
2020 — Brian Morehouse, Hope
2019 — Adrienne Shibles, Bowdoin
2018 — Bob Amsberry, Wartburg
2017 — G.P. Gromacki, Amherst
2016 — Scott Hemer, SUNY Geneseo
2015 — Carla Berube, Tufts
2014 — Marc Mitchell, Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham
2013 — Kris Huffman, DePauw
2012 — Mia Smith, Illinois Wesleyan
2011 — Nancy Fahey, Washington (St. Louis)
2010 — G.P. Gromacki, Amherst
2009 — Scott Rueck, George Fox
2008 — Chris Kielsmeier, Howard Payne
2007 — Deena Applebury, Mary Washington
2006 — Brian Morehouse, Hope
2005 — Gary Fifield, Southern Maine
2004 — Stephanie Pemper, Bowdoin
2003 — Tonja Englund, UW-Eau Claire
2002 — Kris Huffman, DePauw
2001 — Nan Carney-DeBord, Ohio Wesleyan
2000 — Nancy Fahey, Washington (St. Louis)
1999 — Pam Ruder, UW-Oshkosh
1998 — Pam Ruder, UW-Oshkosh
1997 — Lisa Stone, UW-Eau Claire
1996 — Kathi Bennett, UW-Oshkosh
1995 — Dixie Jeffers, Capital
1994 — Dixie Jeffers, Capital
1993 — Mike Durbin, St. Benedict
1992 — Mary Beth Spirk, Moravian
1991 — Donna Newberry, Muskingum
1990 — Sue Wise, Hope
1989 — LeAnn Henrich, CSU-Stanislaus
1988 — Duane Siverson, Concordia (MN)
1987 — Linda Wunder, UW-Stevens Point
1986 — Tim Shea, Salem State
1985 — Mike Strong, Scranton
1984 — A.J. Stoval, Rust
1983 — Wayne Morgan, North Central
NAIA
2024 — Ginger Colvin, Campbellsville
2023 — Ginger Colvin, Campbellsville
2022 — Wes Keller, Rocky Mountain
2021 — K.C. Bassett, Sterling
2020 — Bo Overton, Oklahoma City
2019 — Jody Martinez, Taylor
2018 — Drew Olson, Concordia (NE)
2017 — Dale Neal, Freed-Hardeman
2016 — Chris Minner, Our Lady of the Lake
2015 — Dale Neal, Freed-Hardeman
2014 — Russ Davis, Vanguard
2013 — George Wilson, Ozarks
2012 — Steve Brooks, Indiana Wesleyan
2011 — Earl Woudstra, Northwestern (IA)
2010 — Nathan Teymer, Southern Polytechnic State
2009 — Russ Davis, Vanguard
2008 — Mark Campbell, Union
2007 — Steve Brooks, Indiana Wesleyan
2006 — Marty Rowe, Lee
2005 — Russ Davis, Vanguard
2004 — Mark Campbell, Union
2003 — Bill Watson, Pikeville
2002 — Craig Wiginton, Southern Nazarene
2001 — Sharon Baldwin, Life
2000 — Steve Crots, Auburn-Montgomery
1999 — Frank Bennett, Lipscomb
1998 — Frank Bennett, Lipscomb
1997 — Cindy DeRocher, Tri-State
1996 — Frank Bennett, Lipscomb
1995 — Jerry Finkbeiner, Southern Nazarene
1994 — Jon Carey, Western Oregon State
1993 — Theresa Check, Central State
1992 — Allison McNeill, Simon Fraser
1991 — Nelson Brownlee, Claflin
1990 — Lisa Bluder, St. Ambrose
1989 — Nelson Brownlee, Claflin
1988 — Johnny Jacumin, Wingate
1987 — Floyd Evans, Wayland Baptist
1986 — Sylvia Hatchell, Francis Marion
1985 — Lewis Bivens, Carson-Newman
Two-Year College
2024 — Luke Scheidecker, Wabash Valley (IL)
2023 — Jeff Allen, Collin County (TX)
2022 — Brandan Harrell, Georgia Highlands
2021 — James Frey, South Georgia Tech
2020 — Cayla Petree, South Plains (TX)
2019 — Mary “Roonie” Scovel, Gulf Coast State (FL)
2018 — Chad Killinger, Moberly Area (MO)
2017 — Kim Muhl, Kirkwood (IA)
2016 — Ben Conrad, Johnson County (KS)
2015 — Greg Franklin, Chipola (FL)
2014 — Trenia Tillis Jones, Tyler (TX)
2013 — Kate Lynch, CC Rhode Island
2012 — B.J. Smith, Highland (KS)
2011 — Mark Leszczyk, Roxbury (MA)
2010 — Michael Landers, Baton Rouge (LA)
2009 — Ned Mircetic, Ventura (CA)
2008 — Lin Laursen, Central Arizona
2007 — Kim Muhl, Kirkwood (IA)
2006 — Seth Goodman, Monroe (NY)
2005 — Lin Laursen, Central Arizona
2004 — Michael Landers, Trinity Valley (TX)
2003 — Stephanie Smith, Wabash Valley (IL)
2002 — Mary “Roonie” Scovel, Gulf Coast (FL)
2001 — Jim Littell, Seward County (KS)
2000 — Lee Ann Riley, Tyler (TX)
1999 — Lorene Ramsey, Illinois Central
1998 — Lorene Ramsey, Illinois Central
1997 — Gary Ashlock, Central Florida
1996 — Bill Brock, Grayson County (TX)
1995 — Kurt Budke, Trinity Valley (TX)
1994 — Lyndal Worth, Florida CC Jacksonville
1993 — Susan Summons, Miami Dade Kendall
1992 — Royce Chadwick, Howard (MD)
1991 — Mike Bona, Emmanuel (MA)
1990 — Evelyn Blalock, Kilgore (TX)
1989 — Evelyn Blalock, Kilgore (TX)
1988 — Johnny Jacumin, Wingate (NC)
1987 — Linda Hargrove, Cowley County (KS)
1986 — Jerry McCarty, Barton County (KS)
1985 — Ken Hefner, Odessa (TX)
1984 — Penny Slagle, North Dakota-Williston
1983 — Lin Laursen, Central Arizona
High School
2024 — Kevin Kiernan, Mater Dei (CA)
2023 — Melissa Hearlihy, Harvard-Westlake (CA)
2022 — Alicia Komaki, Sierra Canyon (CA)
2021 — Hilda Hankerson, Westlake (GA)
2020 — Terri Bamford, La Jolla Country Day (CA)
2019 — Kit Kyle Martin, Timberview (TX)
2018 — Sue Phillips, Archbishop Mitty (CA)
2017 — Rhonda Farney, Georgetown (TX)
2016 — Tom Gonzalves, St. Mary’s (CA)
2015 — Scott Allen, Paul VI Catholic (VA)
2014 — Cathy Self Morgan, Duncanville (TX)
2013 — Curtis Ekmark, St. Mary’s (AZ)
2012 — Marcia Pinder, Dillard (FL)
2011 — Rich Castellano, Northport (NY)
2010 — Jeff Sink, Brea Olinda (CA)
2009 — Linus McGinty, Cardinal O’Hara (PA)
2008 — Andy Zihlman, Bishop Lynch (TX)
2007 — Joy Couch, Dorman (SC)
2006 — Kevin Kiernan, Troy (CA)
2005 — Bob Mackey, Christ the King (NY)
2004 — Brad Smith, Oregon City (OR)
2003 — Joe Lombard, Canyon (TX)
2002 — Kathy McGee, Powers Catholic (MI)
2001 — Jeff Jasper, Pascack Valley (NJ)
2000 — Tom Dineen, Buffalo Grove (IL)
1999 — Linda Holt, Butler (AL)
1998 — Linda Holt, Butler (AL)
1997 — Brad Smith, Oregon City (OR)
1996 — Brad Smith, Oregon City (OR)
1995 — Breezy Bishop, Western (MD)
1994 — Pat Hewitt, Hartsville (SC)
1993 — Vincent Cannizzaro, Christ the King (NY)
1992 — Rick Insell, Shelbyville Central (TN)
1991 — Sandra Meadows, Duncanville (TX)
1990 — Rick Insell, Shelbyville Central (TN)
