The 2025 Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year Watch List

On Friday, February 21, the Naismith Awards announced the 2025 Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year Watch List.

Each year, the award is presented to an outstanding coach who has achieved great on-court success.

Here are the coaches named to this year’s watch list:

FULL NAME
SCHOOL
CONFERENCE

Greg Gard
Wisconsin
Big Ten

Dennis Gates
Missouri
SEC

Todd Golden
Florida
SEC

Penny Hardaway
Memphis
AAC

Tom Izzo
Michigan State
Big Ten

Pat Kelsey
Louisville
ACC

Dusty May
Michigan
Big Ten

Grant McCasland
Texas Tech
Big 12

Ben McCollum
Drake
MVC

Matt Painter
Purdue
Big Ten

Bruce Pearl
Auburn
SEC

Rick Pitino
St. John’s
BIG EAST

Richard Pitino
New Mexico
MWC

Kelvin Sampson
Houston
Big 12

Jon Scheyer
Duke
ACC