The 2025-26 high school girls basketball season enters its final weeks with coaches fine-tuning game plans in hopes of capturing a championship in their respective states.
Past MaxPreps National Coach of the Year winners include Stan Delus in 2023, Dan Rolfes in 2014 and the late Terry English in 2021. See the complete list dating back to 2014 at the bottom of the page.
Read on for a look at the finalists. Coaches are listed in alphabetical order
Jan Azar, Hebron Christian (Dacula, Ga.)Resume: In her sixth season with the Lions, Azar has brought Hebron Christian to its sixth straight title game while chasing a fourth championship. Hebron graduated four Division I players but finds itself 29-1 and No. 24 in the country. She has won 17 state titles in her career with more than 750 victories.
Aundre Cummings, Ontario Christian (Ontario, Calif.)Resume: The No. 1-ranked Knights have a wealth of talent with top-rated junior Kaleena Smith and others. But Cummings has guided them to a 32-2 record against a schedule that features wins over six teams in the MaxPreps Top 25 and three state champions.
Darnell Dozier, Princess Anne (Virginia Beach, Va.)Resume: Dozier looks to guide No. 6 Princess Anne to a fourth straight Class 6A title and add to his record 15 VHSL championships. The Cavaliers are riding a 69-game win streak.
Ron James, Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.)Resume: The WCAC Coach of the Year led Bishop McNamara to the Nike Tournament of Champions title in December.
Chad Jilek, Johnston (Iowa)Resume: The Dragons own the nation's longest win streak after capturing their third straight Class 5A state title. Johnston finished 27-0 and is 103-2 over the past three seasons.
Krystle Johnson, Hoover (Ala.)Resume: Johnson notched her 400th career with this season and guided the program to its seventh straight Class 7A state title. Hoover ended the year on a 34-game win streak.
Joe Montano, Red Bank Catholic (Red Bank, N.J.)Resume: The Caseys (30-2) won the Non-Public A title behind Montano for his 800th win. He will look for state title No. 10 behind McDonald's All American
Addy Nyemchek with No. 10.
Sue Phillips, Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.)Resume: Already a Women's Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, Phillips is looking to grab the program's seventh state title and perhaps a national championship Saturday. Mitty (28-2) is No. 2 in the rankings and in the Open Division final for the fifth straight season.
Resume: Swaby ran out of hands for championship rings this season as Country Day won its 11th title. He owns the record for most coaching titles in Florida after the Spartans finished 28-2.
Past MaxPreps National Coaches of the Year
2014 — Dan Rolfes, Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis)
2015 — Tom Gonsalves, St. Mary's (Stockton, Calif.)
2016 — Karen Weitz, Centennial (Las Vegas)
2017 — Joe Lombard, Canyon (Texas)
2018 — Frank Orlando, Detroit Country Day (Beverly Hills, Mich.)
2019 — Terri Bamford, La Jolla Country Day (La Jolla, Calif.)
2020 — No award (Pandemic)
2021 — Terry English, Bishop Miege (Shawnee Mission, Kan.)
2022 — Tim Miller, Hazel Green (Ala.)
2023 — Stan Delus (Etiwanda, Calif.)
2024 — Tim Slater, Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)
2025 — Jason Reuter, Bradley Central (Cleveland, Tenn.)
