Geno Auriemma, Dawn Staley Lead 2025 Women's College Coach of the Year Semifinalists

After wrapping up the regular season and conference tournaments, Connecticut's Geno Auriemma and South Carolina's Dawn Staley headline the list of 2025 Women's College Coach of the Year semifinalists.

The Atlanta Tipoff Club revealed the 10 semifinalists for the award on Thursday:

Geno Auriemma, Connecticut

Dawn Staley, South Carolina

Cori Close, UCLA

Lindsay Gottlieb, USC

Vic Schaefer, Texas

Mark Campbell, TCU

Niele Ivey, Notre Dame

Wes Moore, North Carolina State

Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt

Kenny Brooks, Kentucky

Auriemma, Staley and UCLA's Cori Close were the most predictable names on the list. Their teams are currently the top three teams in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, with the Bruins atop the rankings ahead of South Carolina and Connecticut.

The Bruins moved up three spots in the poll this week to No. 1 after defeating USC in the Big Ten Championship Game. It was just the second conference tournament title in program history (2016).

Staley and Auriemma also led their teams to regular season and conference tournament titles. The Gamecocks dominated then-top-ranked Texas 64-45 in the SEC Championship on Sunday.

The 19-point margin of defeat was Texas' worst loss since losing 73-51 to Louisville in the second round of the 2023 NCAA tournament.

Auriemma's eight Naismith Coach of the Year awards are the most by any men's or women's coach in history. He has a great case to win his ninth after leading the Huskies to a 31-3 record in the regular season, including an undefeated mark in Big East play (18-0).

UConn does have the benefit of an 87-58 record over South Carolina to enhance Auriemma's argument if it comes down to a race with Staley. The Big East tournament proved to be a formality for the Huskies, who won their three games by an average of 26.3 points.

Staley has won the award in each of the past three years and four times in the past five seasons. The South Carolina coach will join Auriemma and Pat Summitt as the only women's coaches to win the Naismith Award five times if she receives the honor this year.

The 2025 women's Naismith College Coach of the Year winner will be announced on April 2.