BOSTON, Mass. - CollegeInsider.com has announced the finalists for the 2025-26 Joe B. Hall award. The award is presented annually to the top first-time head coach in division I college basketball. High Point University men's basketball Head Coach Flynn Clayman was selected to the list.

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.
 
Since taking over at the helm for the 2025-26 season as a first-year head coach, Clayman has guided the Panthers to their third straight Big South Regular-Season title and No. 1 seed entering the Big South Tournament. In league play, HPU set a program record going 15-1. Finishing out the regular-season, High Point compiled a 27-4 record for its third straight 27-win season – the most consecutive seasons by a Big South member in conference history. Clayman was named the Big South Coach of the Year following the regular-season.
 
Throughout the season, High Point has performed at the top in national statistical categories. The Panthers rank in the top 25 in multiple areas and are currently 1st in steals per game (11.1), 1st turnover margin (7.5), 2nd in fastbreak points (19.16), 2nd in scoring offense (90.7), 3rd in scoring margin (20.3), 3rd in turnovers forced (16.77), 4th in free throws made (20.0), 9th in assist/turnover ratio (1.78), 17th in effective field goal percentage (57.1%), and 20th in field goal percentage (49.6%).
 
The recipient of the annual award is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of collegeinsider.com.

The 2026 award will be announced in Indianapolis, IN, site of the men's Division I Basketball Championship.

JOE B. HALL AWARD FINALISTS

Clint Allard	UC San Diego
Bill Armstrong	McNeese State
Tim Bergstraser	Denver
Matt Braeuer	Stephen F. Austin
Kevin Carroll	Lipscomb
Zach Chu	Radford
Flynn Clayman	High Point
Ali Farokhmanesh	Colorado State
Kevin Giltner	Wofford
Kevin Hovde	Columbia
Jai Lucas	Miami
Ryan Miller	Murray State
Ryan Pannone	Arkansas State
Jon Perry	Navy
Nolan Smith	Tennessee State
Charlie Ward	Florida A&M

 
 
PREVIOUS AWARD WINNERS
Ben MCollum, 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).

High Point will play No. 9 seed Gardner-Webb on Friday, March 6 at 12:00 p.m. at Freedom Hall in Johnson City, Tenn. Tune in on ESPN+.