DePaul University Athletics
Chris Holtmann Named Finalist for Skip Prosser Man of Year Award
3/3/2026 2:26:00 PM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
BOSTON, Mass. – DePaul men's basketball head coach Chris Holtmann was named a finalist this week for the 2025-26 Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award.
The award is presented annually to a Division I coach who "wins with integrity on and off the court." It is named after Skip Prosser, the former head coach at Wake Forest, Xavier and Loyola (Md.). Prosser was in his sixth season at Wake Forest when he passed away in his office in 2007.
The recipient is selected by a 10-member voting committee comprised of current and former head coaches, as well as senior staff members of CollegeInsider.com. The 2026 award will be announced in Indianapolis at the site of the Division I Men's Basketball Championship.
Holtmann is in his second year at the helm of the Blue Demons program and has made an immediate impact on and off the court. This season, DePaul sits with a 16-13 record and the second-most BIG EAST wins in program history.
In his short time in Lincoln Park, the Blue Demons have set multiple program benchmarks, including a single-season record for three-pointers made in 2024-25 and the program's first postseason appearance in six years.
Beyond the court, Holtmann has quickly built strong connections within the DePaul community. Since arriving in Chicago, Holtmann has purchased lunch for students the day after each home victory. This season, Holtmann and his wife, Lori, also provided food for two buses of students who traveled to Milwaukee for DePaul's BIG EAST matchup against Marquette. Though largely private, Holtmann and his family have made numerous contributions throughout the Chicagoland, Columbus and Indianapolis communities.
Holtmann is one of 10 active coaches nationally to earn conference Coach of the Year honors at three different institutions — Ohio State (2018), Butler (2017) and Gardner-Webb (2013). In his career, he is a three-time Naismith National Coach of the Year finalist and a two-time Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year finalist. Under his leadership, Holtmann guided his programs to nine consecutive 20-win seasons from 2012-21, including eight straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
2025-26 Skip Prosser Award Finalists
Lennie Acuff – Samford
Casey Alexander – Belmont
Jase Coburn – Portland State
Johnny Dawkins – UCF
Mike DeGeorge – Cal Poly
Greg Gard – Wisconsin
Kyle Gerdeman – Lindenwood
Chris Holtmann – DePaul
Donte' Jackson – Alabama A&M
James Jones – Yale
Greg Kampe – Oakland
Eric Konkol – Tulsa
Mark Madsen – California
Mike Magpayo – Fordham
Gerry McNamara – Siena
Paul Mills – Wichita State
Dave Moore – West Georgia
Ryan Odom – Virginia
Antoine Pettway – Kennesaw State
Brett Reed – Lehigh
Ryan Ridder – Mercer
Patrick Sellers – Central Connecticut State
Duane Simpkins – American
Zach Spiker – Drexel
Dedrique Taylor – Cal State Fullerton
The award is presented annually to a Division I coach who "wins with integrity on and off the court." It is named after Skip Prosser, the former head coach at Wake Forest, Xavier and Loyola (Md.). Prosser was in his sixth season at Wake Forest when he passed away in his office in 2007.
The recipient is selected by a 10-member voting committee comprised of current and former head coaches, as well as senior staff members of CollegeInsider.com. The 2026 award will be announced in Indianapolis at the site of the Division I Men's Basketball Championship.
Holtmann is in his second year at the helm of the Blue Demons program and has made an immediate impact on and off the court. This season, DePaul sits with a 16-13 record and the second-most BIG EAST wins in program history.
In his short time in Lincoln Park, the Blue Demons have set multiple program benchmarks, including a single-season record for three-pointers made in 2024-25 and the program's first postseason appearance in six years.
Beyond the court, Holtmann has quickly built strong connections within the DePaul community. Since arriving in Chicago, Holtmann has purchased lunch for students the day after each home victory. This season, Holtmann and his wife, Lori, also provided food for two buses of students who traveled to Milwaukee for DePaul's BIG EAST matchup against Marquette. Though largely private, Holtmann and his family have made numerous contributions throughout the Chicagoland, Columbus and Indianapolis communities.
Holtmann is one of 10 active coaches nationally to earn conference Coach of the Year honors at three different institutions — Ohio State (2018), Butler (2017) and Gardner-Webb (2013). In his career, he is a three-time Naismith National Coach of the Year finalist and a two-time Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year finalist. Under his leadership, Holtmann guided his programs to nine consecutive 20-win seasons from 2012-21, including eight straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
2025-26 Skip Prosser Award Finalists
Lennie Acuff – Samford
Casey Alexander – Belmont
Jase Coburn – Portland State
Johnny Dawkins – UCF
Mike DeGeorge – Cal Poly
Greg Gard – Wisconsin
Kyle Gerdeman – Lindenwood
Chris Holtmann – DePaul
Donte' Jackson – Alabama A&M
James Jones – Yale
Greg Kampe – Oakland
Eric Konkol – Tulsa
Mark Madsen – California
Mike Magpayo – Fordham
Gerry McNamara – Siena
Paul Mills – Wichita State
Dave Moore – West Georgia
Ryan Odom – Virginia
Antoine Pettway – Kennesaw State
Brett Reed – Lehigh
Ryan Ridder – Mercer
Patrick Sellers – Central Connecticut State
Duane Simpkins – American
Zach Spiker – Drexel
Dedrique Taylor – Cal State Fullerton
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