Naismith Women’s Coach of the Year Watch List: Breaking Down the Top Contenders

The Naismith Awards announced its 2025 Werner Ladder Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year Watch List on Wednesday.

On3 breaks down each of the candidates.

Geno Auriemma, UConn

The UConn Huskies are finally relatively healthy and Geno Auriemma has continued the program’s dominance this season. 

With a pair of stars in Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers playing together at last, this squad is dangerous, as evidenced by UConn’s dominant 29-point win at South Carolina. Auriemma has freshman Sarah Strong playing at an elite level and, in his 40th season, he has UConn in contention to win their 12th national title. 

Kenny Brooks, Kentucky

In Kenny Brooks’ first season with Kentucky, the program has seen a complete turnaround. Although two projected starters suffered season-ending injuries prior to the 2024-25 season, Brooks has made the most of the talent he has on roster. 

He’s coached elite point guard Georgia Amoore for the entirety of her career and the star is projected to be a top pick in this year’s WNBA Draft.

Kim Caldwell, Tennessee

Kim Caldwell took over at Tennessee this season in her first P5 head coaching role. The Lady Volunteers have competed with some of the nation’s powerhouses, earning a key win over UConn in February. Tennessee has one of the top scoring offenses in the country and makes the most 3-pointers of any team nationally. 

Despite a high level of success on the court, it might be Caldwell’s recruiting wins that have been most notable, landing five Top-60 recruits for the next class of freshmen. 

Mark Campbell, TCU

This has been a historic year for TCU and there’s still time to spare. When Mark Campbell took over last season, he inherited a team that earned just one conference win. Campbell has mastered the transfer portal era to find the best available talent and the puzzle pieces have continued to fit. 

TCU earned a Top-10 ranking in the AP Poll for the first time in program history. The Horned Frogs haven’t made a NCAA Tournament appearance since 2010 and this season, they’ll very likely host the first two rounds as a top seed.

Cori Close, UCLA

UCLA was the last undefeated college basketball team in the nation. Cori Close has recruited several stars out of high school and the transfer portal over the last few seasons and this year is a culmination of that effort. 

Star post player Lauren Betts is a frontrunner for National Player of the Year and there are few weaknesses to be found with this Bruins squad. UCLA has just one road loss this year and the potential to make their first-ever Final Four appearance. 

Nell Fortner, Georgia Tech

Nell Fortner has been with Georgia Tech since 2019 and has earned the program’s two highest AP Poll rankings in program history. This season, no one expected the Yellowjackets to be as competitive as they have been in a strong ACC conference. 

She led Georgia Tech to its best start in program history this year as they went 15-0 to open the season. The Yellowjackets have wins over three Top-25 programs and have a stellar freshman in Dani Carnegie. 

Lindsay Gottlieb, USC

USC is atop the Big Ten standings this season and it’s the Trojans second straight season with at least 23 regular-season wins — a feat last accomplished in the 1982-83 and 1983-84 seasons.

Lindsay Gottlieb has excelled as a recruiter, both in the high school and transfer portal ranks. USC added six Top 100 freshmen this season alongside one of the best portal hauls in the country. She’s also developed star JuJu Watkins, who won National Freshman of the Year last season and is now a frontrunner for NPOY. 

Niele Ivey, Notre Dame

Notre Dame earned its first No. 1 ranking in the AP Poll since 2019, the Irish have the best backcourt in the country in Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles and Notre Dame is a true contender for a national title.

It’s been a stellar year for Niele Ivey and Co. despite struggling with several injuries at the start of the year. On both ends of the floor, Notre Dame excels and the Irish have just one falter in conference play.

Kevin McGuff, Ohio State

Kevin McGuff has been included on the National Coach of the Year watch list four times in the last five seasons. Ohio State was one of the final three unbeaten teams in the country this season with a 17-0 start to the year. Freshman Jaloni Cambridge is one of the frontrunners for NFOY and, coupled with junior Cotie McMahon, the Buckeyes have plenty of talent.

There have been a couple of skids against Penn State and Indiana, but this is a team with the potential to go far in March. 

Jeff Mittie, Kansas State

In Jeff Mittie’s 11th season at the helm, Kansas State is continuing a high level of success. Even in dealing with an injury to star post player Ayoka Lee, the Wildcats were able to sustain a high ranking in the AP Poll and earn several key wins. 

Since making its poll debut on Nov. 20, 2023, K-State has been ranked for 35 consecutive weeks. The Wildcats are among the best teams in the Big 12 and will look to make their first-ever Final Four appearance this postseason.

Wes Moore, NC State

NC State graduated several key players last season and Wes Moore has still found a way for the Wolfpack to become a Top-10 team in the country. The Wolfpack just took down then-No. 1 Notre Dame and have managed an 11-1 record in their last 12 games, with wins over Georgia Tech, Duke, Florida State and the Irish. 

The Wolfpack sit at second in the ACC standings and will earn their eighth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

Kim Mulkey, LSU

It’s been another standout year for LSU’s Kim Mulkey, who has had to adjust to playing with a smaller lineup and facing two new powerhouse SEC programs. The Tigers added a significant amount from the portal, once again, but it’s the core of Flau’Jae Johnson, Aneesah Morrow and Mikaylah Williams that can be credited with much of their success. 

LSU is in position to host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive season. The Tigers are 27-2, with their only losses coming at South Carolina and Texas.

Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt

Shea Ralph has guided Vanderbilt to a 19-9 record this season and the program’s first AP Poll ranking since 2014. The Commodores are in position to make an NCAA Tournament appearance and Vanderbilt freshman Mikayla Blakes is a frontrunner to win National Freshman of the Year, with two 50-plus point outings. 

Last year, Ralph led the Commodores back to March Madness for the first time in 10 seasons. She was 70-57 through four seasons at Vanderbilt, with one NCAA Tournament and WNIT berth each.

Vic Schaefer, Texas

Texas is the No. 1 team in the country with key wins over South Carolina, LSU, Oklahoma and Kentucky. The Longhorns are half a game back from first in the SEC in their first season in the conference. 

Schaefer has led Texas to a 26-2 record this year and the Longhorns are the first women’s college basketball team in 20 years to win three straight games against top-10 teams. Texas has the potential to finish the year with a No. 1 AP Poll ranking for the first time since 1987. 

Dawn Staley, South Carolina

Dawn Staley is the only four-time winner in the award’s history for men’s or women’s basketball, which includes winning it the last three seasons. South Carolina sits atop the SEC standings, despite a few setbacks in non-conference play. 

The Gamecocks have the potential to contend for their third NCAA Tournament national title in the last four years.