MIAMI’S JAI LUCAS RECIPIENT OF 2026 JOE B. HALL AWARD
The top first-year head coach in division I college basketball

INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- Miami’s Jai Lucas is the recipient of the 2026 Joe B. Hall National Coach of the Year award, which is presented annually to the top first-time head coach in division I college basketball.

Lucas matched the best single-season turnaround in division I NCAA history. After winning 7 games in 2024-25, the Hurricanes improved to 26-9 this season. The 19-win improvement ties the NCAA record for largest turnaround.

“Many believed the ‘Canes would be much improved this season, but I don’t think many people outside of that locker room thought a 26-win season was likely,” said Joe Dwyer, President of College Insider, Inc. and member of the Joe B. Hall voting panel. “Coach Lucas changed the tenor of the program, from top to bottom. He instilled a toughness and a winning mindset. They went from an offensively challenged team to one of the most efficient offenses in college basketball. It was great to see Miami basketball back near the top of the ACC.”

One of the big keys to Miami's turnaround came at the offensive end. The Hurricanes shot 50.4% from the floor, which was tops in the ACC and is 10th nationally.

Lucas also brought in three big transfers that made immediate impacts. Malik Reneau, Tre Donaldson and Ernest Udeh Jr. all garnered All-ACC honors.

Reneau was named to the All-ACC First Team after leading the team in scoring with 18.9 points per game to go along with 6.6 rebounds. Donaldson was selected to the All-ACC Second Team after averaging 16.4 points, 5.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Udeh Jr. was named to the All-ACC Defensive Team after racking up 46 blocked shots and finishing second in the league in rebounding at 9.2 per game.
Miami entered the ACC tournament with 24 wins, which tied the school record for most in a regular season. After winning just 3 conference games and finishing dead last in the ACC, the 'Canes were 13-4 in the league.

Lucas became the fastest first-time head coach in the ACC to reach 20 wins (Feb 14 vs NC State) since Bill Guthridge in 1997-98. Lucas reached the mark in 25 games, the second fewest in ACC history.

He was one win shy of matching the program mark for home wins, as they finished 15-2 inside the Watsco Center.

Prior to taking over at Miami, Lucas spent the past three seasons at Duke, where he served as an assistant coach for one campaign before being elevated to associate head coach in 2023.

The Joe B. Hall award is named in honor of longtime Kentucky head coach Joe B. Hall who was given the task of following the legendary Adolph Rupp at the school. In his first season, Hall finished 20-8, won the SEC and advanced to the NCAA Regional Finals.

Hall coached the Wildcats from 1972 to 1985. He won two-thirds of his games (297-100), received four SEC Coach of the Year honors, and won a National Championship in 1978. He also steered the program to two other Final Fours, won eight Southeastern Conference regular season championships and one Southeastern Conference tournament championship (1984).

Coach Hall passed away on January 15, 2022.

  JOE B. HALL AWARD FINALISTS

PREVIOUS AWARD WINNERS
Ben McCollum, Drake (2025); Sundance Wicks, Green Bay (2024); Keith Urgo, Fordham (2023); Jordan Mincy, Jacksonville (2022); Mike Magpayo, UC Riverside (2021); Greg Paulus, Niagara (2020); Justin Hutson, Fresno State (2019); Ryan Ridder, Bethune-Cookman (2018); Ryan Odom, UMBC (2017); Eran Ganot, Hawaii (2016); Chris Jans, Bowling Green (2015); Brad Underwood, Stephen F. Austin (2014); Jack Perri, LIU Brooklyn (2013); Steve Prohm, Murray State (2012).

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NOTE: Portions of the press release came from University of Miami releases.