KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The NABC on Thursday announced the recipients of the 2026 NABC Mike Krzyzewski Award, NABC Hillyard Golden Anniversary Award, NABC Cliff Wells Appreciation Award, and NABC International Lifetime Achievement Award.
UMass Dartmouth head coach Brian Baptiste will receive the 2026 NABC Hillyard Golden Anniversary Award, while Big West Conference commissioner Dan Butterly has been selected as the 2026 NABC Cliff Wells Appreciation Award winner. Retired Ropes & Gray partner and longtime NABC legal counsel Dennis Coleman will be presented with the 2026 NABC Mike Krzyzewski Award.
The Mike Krzyzewski Award and Cliff Wells Appreciation Award recognize coaches, administrators and contributors who have made significant impacts on the game of basketball and the NABC, while the Golden Anniversary Award honors coaches who have devoted at least 50 years of service to the sport.
Additionally, the NABC International Committee will present its Lifetime Achievement Award to former coach Bobby Cremins. The honor recognizes coaches who have contributed to growing the game of basketball both domestically and abroad.
NABC Mike Krzyzewski Award – Dennis Coleman, Ropes & Gray LLP retired partner
Dennis Coleman is one of the nation’s most respected sports attorneys, and has represented numerous high-profile coach, franchise, and league office clients throughout his career. Coleman – who recently retired as a partner from the global firm Ropes & Gray LLP – has been the NABC’s general counsel for over 30 years. Through his work with the NABC, Coleman has served as an ex-officio member on the NABC Board of Directors and advised NABC leadership on key initiatives ranging from legislative proposals to contract negotiations.
NABC Hillyard Golden Anniversary Award – Brian Baptiste, UMass Dartmouth head coach
With over 740 careers wins and counting, UMass Dartmouth’s Brian Baptiste is the winningest active coach in Division III men’s basketball and ranks among the top 10 all-time at the DIII level. Since taking over the program in 1983, Baptiste has led the Corsairs to 14 NCAA Tournaments and an appearance in the 1993 national semifinals. He is also a leading voice off the court, serving as a member of the NABC Division III Congress and NCAA Regional Advisory Committee.
NABC Cliff Wells Appreciation Award – Dan Butterly, Big West Conference commissioner
Dan Butterly has served as commissioner of the Big West Conference since 2020 and is widely regarded as one of the most influential basketball leaders in college athletics. Alongside his conference work, Butterly chairs the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee, which is charged with shaping the strategic direction of the sport. Through his role as MBOC chair, Butterly serves as an ex-officio member on the NABC Board of Directors and has prioritized amplifying the voices of coaches on national issues.
NABC International Lifetime Achievement Award – Bobby Cremins, former Division I head coach
Bobby Cremins won 586 games across successful head coaching tenures at Charleston, Georgia Tech and Appalachian State prior to his retirement in 2012. He was a three-time ACC Coach of the Year and four-time Southern Conference Coach of the Year, reached the NCAA Tournament 11 times, and took Georgia Tech to the Final Four in 1990. Cremins also served in coaching positions for USA Basketball at numerous international competitions, including a role as an assistant for the 1996 US men’s national team that captured the gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
