DePaul University Athletics
Chris Holtmann Named Finalist for Jim Phelan Coach of the Year Award
3/5/2026 6:37:00 PM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
BOSTON, MASS. – DePaul men's basketball head coach Chris Holtmann has been named a finalist for the 2025-26 Jim Phelan Coach of the Year Award, as announced Thursday afternoon.
The Jim Phelan Award is presented annually by CollegeInsider.com to the top head coach in Division I college basketball. It is named in honor of legendary coach Jim Phelan, who spent his entire head coaching career at Mount Saint Mary's University. Phelan graduated from La Salle in 1951 and joined Mount St. Mary's as an assistant in 1953 before beginning his storied head coaching career the following year.
The recipient is elected by a 10-member voting committee comprised of current and former head coaches, as well as senior staff members from CollegeInsider.com. The 2026 award will be announced in Indianapolis at the site of the Division I Men's Basketball Championship.
Holtmann is one of three BIG EAST coaches named a finalist – joining UConn's Dan Hurley and St. John's Rick Pitino. This marks the third time in Holtmann's career he has been named a finalist for the Jim Phelan Award.
In his second year at the helm of the Blue Demons program, Holtmann 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 (eight). The Blue Demons are looking to finish out the regular season Sunday and clinch the highest BIG EAST Tournament seed in program history. DePaul's defense ranks top 40 nationally with a top 30 assist rate. This season, the Blue Demons won three-straight BIG EAST road games for the first time in program history and recorded three season sweeps of conference opponents.
Holtmann led an immediate turnaround in 2024-25, his first season with the Blue Demons. DePaul saw an 11-win increase from the previous season and had the nation's largest increase in KenPom from the end of 2023-24 to 2024-25 while setting the Blue Demons program record 314 made three-pointers.
2025-26 JIM PHELAN AWARD FINALISTS
Randy Bennett – Saint Mary's
Johnny Dawkins – UCF
Todd Golden – Florida
Fred Hoiberg – Nebraska
Chris Holtmann – DePaul
Dan Hurley – UConn
Tom Izzo – Michigan State
Tommy Lloyd – Arizona
Jai Lucas – Miami (Fla.)
Mike Magpayo – Fordham
Dusty May – Michigan
Grant McCausland – Texas Tech
Ritchie McKay – Liberty
Ryan Odom – Virginia
Jon Perry – Navy
Rick Pitino – St. John's
Kelvin Sampson – Houston
Josh Schertz – Saint Louis
Jon Scheyer – Duke
Travis Steele – Miami (OH)
The Jim Phelan Award is presented annually by CollegeInsider.com to the top head coach in Division I college basketball. It is named in honor of legendary coach Jim Phelan, who spent his entire head coaching career at Mount Saint Mary's University. Phelan graduated from La Salle in 1951 and joined Mount St. Mary's as an assistant in 1953 before beginning his storied head coaching career the following year.
The recipient is elected by a 10-member voting committee comprised of current and former head coaches, as well as senior staff members from CollegeInsider.com. The 2026 award will be announced in Indianapolis at the site of the Division I Men's Basketball Championship.
Holtmann is one of three BIG EAST coaches named a finalist – joining UConn's Dan Hurley and St. John's Rick Pitino. This marks the third time in Holtmann's career he has been named a finalist for the Jim Phelan Award.
In his second year at the helm of the Blue Demons program, Holtmann 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 (eight). The Blue Demons are looking to finish out the regular season Sunday and clinch the highest BIG EAST Tournament seed in program history. DePaul's defense ranks top 40 nationally with a top 30 assist rate. This season, the Blue Demons won three-straight BIG EAST road games for the first time in program history and recorded three season sweeps of conference opponents.
Holtmann led an immediate turnaround in 2024-25, his first season with the Blue Demons. DePaul saw an 11-win increase from the previous season and had the nation's largest increase in KenPom from the end of 2023-24 to 2024-25 while setting the Blue Demons program record 314 made three-pointers.
2025-26 JIM PHELAN AWARD FINALISTS
Randy Bennett – Saint Mary's
Johnny Dawkins – UCF
Todd Golden – Florida
Fred Hoiberg – Nebraska
Chris Holtmann – DePaul
Dan Hurley – UConn
Tom Izzo – Michigan State
Tommy Lloyd – Arizona
Jai Lucas – Miami (Fla.)
Mike Magpayo – Fordham
Dusty May – Michigan
Grant McCausland – Texas Tech
Ritchie McKay – Liberty
Ryan Odom – Virginia
Jon Perry – Navy
Rick Pitino – St. John's
Kelvin Sampson – Houston
Josh Schertz – Saint Louis
Jon Scheyer – Duke
Travis Steele – Miami (OH)
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