ATLANTA (Dec. 10, 2024) – Muffet McGraw and Mike Krzyzewski, two iconic figures in the world of college basketball who were previously each named a three-time Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year, have been honored with the Naismith Award for their lifelong contributions to the sport, as announced today by the Atlanta Tipoff Club (ATOC). The ATOC’s Board of Directors chose McGraw, celebrated for her remarkable tenure at Notre Dame, and Krzyzewski, renowned for his legendary coaching career at Duke. Both honorees will be recognized during the 2025 college basketball season.
“Every year, we choose individuals who have made a profound impact on players and fans alike, truly embodying the spirit of basketball,” said Eric Oberman, president of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. “It’s a privilege to honor these remarkable figures who dedicated their lives to fostering and advancing the game. Winning a Naismith Coach of the Year award is incredible, but being recognized later for your lasting contributions is exceptional.”
First awarded in 1982, the Naismith Outstanding Contributor to Basketball Award is given annually to those whose exceptional efforts have created a lasting, positive influence on the game. The recipients exemplify character, integrity, and dignity and make substantial contributions to the growth and sustainability of basketball.
About Muffet McGraw:
- As the head coach at Notre Dame and Lehigh, she led her teams to a 936-292 record in 38 seasons, including an 848-252 mark in 33 seasons with the Irish.
- She won national championships in 2001 and 2018 and is one of seven Division I women’s coaches to win multiple NCAA titles.
- She led the Irish to 26 NCAA tournament appearances, including 24 consecutive NCAA berths from 1997-2020. Her teams made 17 Sweet 16 appearances,10 Elite Eights, nine trips to the Final Four and played in the national championship game seven times.
- Her 67 NCAA Tournament wins rank fourth all-time. She also boasts a .736 NCAA Tournament winning percentage (67-24), which ranks 10th all-time. She is seventh on the all-time coaching list with 26 appearances.
- A seven-time Conference Coach of the Year, including twice in the BIG EAST and Atlantic Coast Conference, and a three-time consensus National Coach of the Year.
- She was named the Werner Ladder Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year in 2001, 2013 and 2014, trailing only Geno Auriemma (8), Pat Summitt (5) and Dawn Staley (4) for the most ever honors.
- Served on the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Special Committee on Recruiting and Access, which helped create proposals to the NCAA that strengthened national recruiting guidelines in 2004.
“I am honored and humbled to receive the prestigious Naismith Outstanding Contributor award,” said McGraw. “I have devoted my life to our game, and I am so thankful to all the people who were a part of my journey. It is great to see how far we have come, and I am grateful to have been a part of building it.”
About Mike Krzyzewski:
- As the head coach at Duke and Army, Krzyzewski finished his career with a 1,202-368 record, making him the winningest coach in men’s college basketball history.
- On November 15, 2011, at Madison Square Garden, Coach K surpassed his former mentor, Bob Knight, to become the Division I men’s all-time leader in career wins with his 903rd victory. His milestone 1,000th career win came on January 25, 2015, against St. John’s in the same venue, making him the first Division I men’s basketball coach to reach four figures in wins.
- In his 42 seasons at Duke, the 2001 Naismith Hall of Fame coach amassed a 1,129-309 mark, leading the Blue Devils to five national titles, 13 Final Fours, 15 Atlantic Coast Conference tournament championships, and 13 Atlantic Coast Conference regular season titles. His 13 Final Four appearances are the most of any Division I men’s basketball coach.
- The Blue Devils won back-to-back national championships in 1991 and 1992, making Krzyzewski the first coach to accomplish that feat since 1973.
- Three-time Werner Ladder Naismith College Coach of the Year (1989, 1992, 1999), five-time Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year (1984, 1986, 1997, 1999, 2000), and two-time National Association of Basketball Coaches Coach of the Year (1991, 1999).
- In 2008, Krzyzewski was the head coach of the U.S. Olympic Gold Medal “Redeem Team,” proving his ability to lead, coach, and achieve is unparalleled in basketball. He coached five Olympic Gold medal-winning teams, twice as an assistant coach (1984 & 1992) and three times as the head coach (2008, 2012, & 2016), while leading the 2010 and 2014 FIBA World Cup teams to gold medals.
- Coach K led the Blue Devils into the NCAA Tournament 36 times, more than any other coach in NCAA history. He holds the record for most wins in NCAA Tournament play, going 101-31.
“Certainly, it is a tremendous honor to be recognized in this way by the Atlanta Tipoff Club,” said Krzyzewski. “In looking at the previous winners of the Naismith Outstanding Contributor award, I am humbled to be among those who’ve impacted the sport of basketball in such a meaningful way. College basketball is so special, and the game gave me much more than I gave it. I am truly grateful to be named the 2025 Naismith Outstanding Contributor to Men’s Basketball.”
Previous Award Winners
| Women's Outstanding Contributor | Men's Outstanding Contributor | |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | C. Vivian Stringer | Bill Walton |
| 2023 | Chris Plonsky | Roy Williams |
| 2022 | Beth Bass | Jim Nantz |
| 2021 | Carol Stiff | Tom Jernstedt (in memory) |
| 2019 | Carol Callan | Verne Lundquist |
| 2018 | Mimi Griffin | Lou Carnesecca |
| 2017 | Ann Meyers Drysdale | Gary Williams |
| 2016 | Andy Landers | Denny Crum |
| 2015 | Lynette Woodard | Bill Raftery |
| 2014 | Nancy Lieberman | Bobby Cremins |
| 2013 | Pat Summitt | Lute Olson |
| 2012 | Teresa Edwards | Don Meyer |
| 2011 | Cheryl Miller | Dick Enberg |
| 2010 | Marsha Sharp | John Thompson Jr. |
| 2009 | Anne Donovan | Billy Packer |
| 2008 | Jody Conradt | Dick Vitale |
| 2007 | Kay Yow | Bob Knight |
| 2006 | Val Ackerman | Jerry Colangelo |
| 2005 | Leon Barmore | Everett Case |
| 2004 | Sonja Hogg | George Killian |
| 2003 | Betty Jaynes | Charles “Lefty” Driesell |
| 2002 | Billie Moore | Don Haskins |
| 2001 | Cathy Rush | Tex Winter |
| 2000 | Harley Redin | Bill Wall |
| 1999 | C.M. Newton | |
| 1998 | Dean Smith | |
| 1997 | Dr. Forrest "Phog" Allen (in memory) | |
| 1996 | Boris Stankovic | |
| 1995 | Victor Bubas | |
| 1994 | Claire F. Bee (in memory) | |
| 1993 | Margaret Wade | Dave Gavitt |
| 1992 | John McLendon | |
| 1991 | Clarence “Big House” Gaines | |
| 1990 | Frank McGuire | |
| 1989 | Nat Holman | |
| 1988 | Red Auerbach | |
| 1987 | Pete Newell | |
| 1986 | Adolph Rupp (in memory) | |
| 1985 | Hank Iba | |
| 1984 | Ray Meyer | |
| 1983 | John Wooden | |
| 1982 | Curt Gowdy |
ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB
Founded during the 1956-57 season, the Atlanta Tipoff Club is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club administers the Naismith Awards, the most prestigious national honors in all of college and high school basketball. Named in honor of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball, the family of Naismith Awards annually recognizes the most outstanding men’s and women’s college and high school basketball players and coaches. Other Naismith Awards are presented to the men’s and women’s college basketball defensive players of the year, as well as lifetime achievement awards to basketball officials and outstanding contributors to the game. UCLA’s Lew Alcindor received the first Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy in 1969, while the late Anne Donovan (Old Dominion) was the inaugural women’s recipient in 1983. Corporate partners of the Naismith Awards include AXIA Time, Jersey Mike’s and Werner Ladder.
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Media Contact:
Mallory Hadaway
Atlanta Tipoff Club
mallory.hadaway@naismithtrophy.com
(256) 682-0599