April 2, 2026

UCF’S JOHNNY DAWKINS RECIPIENT OF 2026 JIM PHELAN AWARD
The top head coach in division I college basketball 

INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- UCF’s Johnny Dawkins is the recipient of the 2026 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year award, which is presented annually to the top head coach in division I college basketball.

Picked to finish 14th in the Big 12, Dawkins took 13 newcomers and finished 21-12, which included an 11-game winning streak. It was the longest win streak for the Knights in 15 years.

“I don’t think enough has been made about the job Johnny Dawkins did this season at UCF,” said Angela Lento, Vice President of College Insider, Inc. and member of the Jim Phelan award voting panel. “He assembled a roster that included some good players from mid-major programs and had a terrific season in the best conference in college basketball. If UCF won just a few more games, Johnny Dawkins would have been a finalist for every head coaching award.”

Dawkins guided a retooled roster to a breakthrough year, exceeding expectations and delivering the program’s best record since joining the Big 12, and sending his team to the Big Dance for the first time since 2019. It was just the second at-large berth in program history.

Themus Fulks, who transferred from Milwaukee, earned Third Team All-Big 12 honors and was named to the All-Newcomer team. Fulks was also a finalist for Riley Wallace award, which is presented annually to the most impactful transfer in division I college basketball. He finished 2nd in the Big 12 in assists with 6.7 per game. Jamichael Stillwell, who also came over from Milwaukee, was 5th in the league in rebounding with 8.2 per contest.

The 21 wins were the most since the 2018-19 team finished 24-9. It was also the first time the Knights cracked the AP Top 25 since the 2018-19 season.

The Knights ended their campaign with a KenPom rating of 54, and a +14.78 adjusted efficiency margin, showcasing a strong defensive presence (73rd ranked) and a solid offense (44th ranked).

They climbed as high as 30th, their best NET ranking since joining the Big 12.

The Knights had three wins against AP Top 25 teams, with victories over No. 17 Kansas, No. 11 Texas Tech and No. 19 BYU. They swept Texas A&M in a home-and-home series and won at Colorado to win a total of five Quad 1 games.

UCF was one of only two teams, joined by Miami, to make the tournament without any returning scoring production from last season. Since 2007, UCF is now one of only three teams to make the tournament without bringing back any scoring production (UCF and Miami 2026, and Kentucky 2025).

The Jim Phelan Award is named in honor of a legendary bow-tied coach who spent his entire head coaching career at Mount Saint Mary’s University.

Phelan graduated from La Salle University in 1951 and played one season in the NBA with the Philadelphia Warriors. After a brief professional career, Phelan went to Mount St. Mary’s as an assistant in 1953. One year later he began his historical career as a head coach.

He led the Mountaineers to 16 Division II NCAA tournaments. Five times they advanced to the Final Four and he led them to the DII National Championship in 1962.

When he retired in 2003, after coaching for 49 years, he had amassed 830 wins (overall record of 830-524) in all divisions. In those 49 years, 19 of his teams amassed 20 or more wins in a season.

In 2008 he was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.

Phelan passed away on June 15, 2021, at the age of 92 at his home in Emmitsburg, MD.

  JIM PHELAN AWARD FINALISTS

PREVIOUS AWARD WINNERS
Chris Beard, Ole Miss (2025); Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska (2024); Chris Collins, Northwestern (2023); Mark Adams, Texas Tech (2022); Todd Simon, Southern Utah (2021); Steve Pikiell, Rutgers (2020); Ritchie McKay, Liberty (2019); Chris Holtmann, Ohio State (2018); Frank Martin, South Carolina (2017); Greg Gard, Wisconsin (2016); Bob Huggins, West Virginia (2015); Tim Miles, Nebraska (2014); Dana Altman, Oregon (2013); Mike Brey, Notre Dame (2012); Stew Morrill, Utah State (2011); Jamie Dixon, Pittsburgh (2010); John Calipari, Memphis (2009); Bo Ryan, Wisconsin (2008); Tony Bennett, Washington State (2007); Ben Howland, UCLA (2006); Tubby Smith, Kentucky (2005); Phil Martelli, Saint Joseph's (2004); Mark Slonaker, Mercer (2003).

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NOTE: Portions of the press release came from UCF releases.