The following is a list of seasons completed by the Kent State Golden Flashes men's basketball program at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, United States. The team was established in 1913 and plays at the Division I level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as members of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) East Division. Kent State played its first intercollegiate game in January 1915 and began play in the MAC in 1951 after playing in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) from 1932–1951. Since 1950, the team has played home games at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center. Through the 2017–18 season, the Golden Flashes have won six Mid-American Conference regular-season championships, six MAC tournament titles, and nine MAC East Division titles. In post-season play, the program has made six appearances in the NCAA tournament, advancing to the Elite Eight in 2002. Additionally, Kent State has nine appearances in the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) and five appearances in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT).
| Conference division champions | Conference champions | Conference tournament champions | Postseason berth |
| Season | Head coach | Season results | Conference tournament result | Postseason result | Final Coaches Poll | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | Conference | ||||||||||
| Wins | Losses | % | Wins | Losses | % | Finish | |||||
| Independent | |||||||||||
| 1913–14 | Alexander Whyte | 7 | 2 | .778 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1914–15 | 3 | 2 | .600 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1915–16 | Donald Ulrich | 4 | 8 | .333 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1916–17 | 2 | 6 | .250 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1917–18 | No team | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1918–19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1919–20 | Paul Chandler | 2 | 4 | .333 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1920–21 | 4 | 7 | .364 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1921–22 | 1 | 7 | .125 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1922–23 | 4 | 6 | .400 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1923–24 | Frank Harsh | 4 | 9 | .308 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1924–25 | 4 | 8 | .333 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1925–26 | Merle Wagoner | 6 | 8 | .429 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1926–27 | 5 | 11 | .313 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1927–28 | 3 | 13 | .188 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1928–29 | 11 | 7 | .611 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1929–30 | 4 | 9 | .308 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1930–31 | 8 | 9 | .471 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1931–32 | 2 | 13 | .133 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Ohio Athletic Conference | |||||||||||
| 1932–33 | 4 | 11 | .267 | 3 | 10 | .231 | T-15th | — | — | — | |
| 1933–34 | August Peterka | 5 | 9 | .357 | 5 | 9 | .357 | 16th | — | — | — |
| 1934–35 | 8 | 6 | .571 | 7 | 6 | .538 | T-11th | — | — | — | |
| 1935–36 | Donald Starn | 10 | 7 | .588 | 6 | 7 | .462 | 13th | — | — | — |
| 1936–37 | 15 | 7 | .682 | 9 | 4 | .692 | 7th | — | — | — | |
| 1937–38 | 10 | 13 | .435 | 4 | 9 | .308 | 12th | — | — | — | |
| 1938–39 | 12 | 11 | .522 | 7 | 7 | .500 | T-10th | — | — | — | |
| 1939–40 | 13 | 10 | .565 | 5 | 7 | .417 | 14th | — | — | — | |
| 1940–41 | 12 | 10 | .545 | 4 | 7 | .364 | 14th | — | — | — | |
| 1941–42 | 14 | 11 | .560 | 7 | 9 | .438 | 10th | — | — | — | |
| 1942–43 | 12 | 12 | .500 | 9 | 6 | .600 | T-6th | — | — | — | |
| 1943–44 | No Team | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1944–45 | William Satterlee | 3 | 11 | .214 | 1 | 5 | .167 | 11th | — | — | — |
| 1945–46 | 10 | 10 | .500 | 9 | 8 | .529 | T-9th | — | — | — | |
| 1946–47 | Harry C. Adams | 13 | 11 | .542 | 7 | 8 | .467 | 10th | — | — | — |
| 1947–48 | 15 | 8 | .652 | 11 | 5 | .688 | 6th | — | — | — | |
| 1948–49 | Dave McDowell | 20 | 8 | .714 | 7 | 4 | .636 | 3rd | 1–1 | — | — |
| 1949–50 | 18 | 4 | .818 | 5 | 4 | .556 | 6th | — | — | — | |
| 1950–51 | 18 | 8 | .692 | 7 | 0 | 1.000 | NA | — | — | — | |
| Mid-American Conference | |||||||||||
| 1951–52 | Clarence Haerr | 14 | 10 | .583 | 3 | 7 | .300 | 6th | — | — | — |
| 1952–53 | 7 | 15 | .318 | 3 | 9 | .250 | 7th | — | — | — | |
| 1953–54 | 8 | 13 | .381 | 3 | 9 | .250 | 7th | — | — | — | |
| 1954–55 | 8 | 14 | .364 | 5 | 9 | .357 | T-5th | — | — | — | |
| 1955–56 | Dave McDowell | 10 | 11 | .476 | 5 | 7 | .417 | T-5th | — | — | — |
| 1956–57 | 5 | 18 | .217 | 2 | 10 | .167 | 7th | — | — | — | |
| 1957–58 | Bill Bertka | 9 | 14 | .391 | 3 | 9 | .250 | 6th | — | — | — |
| 1958–59 | 11 | 13 | .458 | 5 | 6 | .455 | T-3rd | — | — | — | |
| 1959–60 | 7 | 16 | .304 | 2 | 10 | .167 | 7th | — | — | — | |
| 1960–61 | 9 | 14 | .391 | 4 | 8 | .333 | T-5th | — | — | — | |
| 1961–62 | Robert Doll | 2 | 19 | .095 | 1 | 11 | .083 | 7th | — | — | — |
| 1962–63 | 3 | 18 | .143 | 1 | 11 | .083 | T-6th | — | — | — | |
| 1963–64 | 11 | 13 | .458 | 5 | 7 | .417 | 5th | — | — | — | |
| 1964–65 | 9 | 11 | .450 | 4 | 8 | .333 | 5th | — | — | — | |
| 1965–66 | 8 | 16 | .333 | 3 | 9 | .250 | 7th | — | — | — | |
| 1966–67 | Frank Truitt | 5 | 18 | .217 | 1 | 11 | .083 | 7th | — | — | — |
| 1967–68 | 9 | 15 | .375 | 3 | 9 | .250 | T-6th | — | — | — | |
| 1968–69 | 14 | 10 | .583 | 6 | 6 | .500 | T-3rd | — | — | — | |
| 1969–70 | 7 | 17 | .292 | 2 | 8 | .200 | T-5th | — | — | — | |
| 1970–71 | 13 | 11 | .542 | 4 | 6 | .400 | T-5th | — | — | — | |
| 1971–72 | 7 | 17 | .292 | 6 | 4 | .600 | 3rd | — | — | — | |
| 1972–73 | 10 | 16 | .385 | 5 | 7 | .417 | T-5th | — | — | — | |
| 1973–74 | 9 | 17 | .346 | 1 | 11 | .083 | 7th | — | — | — | |
| 1974–75 | Rex Hughes | 6 | 20 | .231 | 3 | 11 | .214 | 7th | — | — | — |
| 1975–76 | 12 | 14 | .462 | 7 | 9 | .438 | T-5th | — | — | — | |
| 1976–77 | 8 | 19 | .296 | 4 | 12 | .250 | T-8th | — | — | — | |
| 1977–78 | Rex Hughes/Mike Boyd | 6 | 21 | .222 | 4 | 12 | .250 | T-9th | — | — | — |
| 1978–79 | Ed Douma | 13 | 14 | .481 | 7 | 9 | .438 | 5th | — | — | — |
| 1979–80 | 10 | 17 | .370 | 7 | 9 | .438 | T-4th | 0–1; Lost in quarterfinals | — | — | |
| 1980–81 | 7 | 19 | .269 | 5 | 11 | .313 | T-9th | Did not qualify | — | — | |
| 1981–82 | 10 | 16 | .385 | 6 | 10 | .375 | 9th | Did not qualify | — | — | |
| 1982–83 | Jim McDonald | 15 | 13 | .536 | 9 | 9 | .500 | 6th | 0–1; Lost in quarterfinals | — | — |
| 1983–84 | 15 | 14 | .517 | 8 | 10 | .444 | T-6th | 2–1; Lost in final | — | — | |
| 1984–85 | 17 | 13 | .567 | 11 | 7 | .611 | T-3rd | 1–1; Lost in semifinals | 0–1 in NIT | — | |
| 1985–86 | 11 | 16 | .407 | 7 | 11 | .389 | T-6th | Did not qualify | — | — | |
| 1986–87 | 19 | 10 | .655 | 11 | 5 | .688 | 2nd | 2–1; Lost in final | — | — | |
| 1987–88 | 10 | 18 | .357 | 6 | 10 | .375 | 7th | 0–1; Lost in quarterfinals | — | — | |
| 1988–89 | 21 | 10 | .677 | 12 | 4 | .750 | 2nd | 2–1; Lost in final | 0–1 in NIT | — | |
| 1989–90 | 21 | 8 | .724 | 12 | 4 | .750 | 2nd | 0–1; Lost in quarterfinals | 0–1 in NIT | — | |
| 1990–91 | 10 | 18 | .357 | 4 | 12 | .250 | 8th | 0–1; Lost in quarterfinals | — | — | |
| 1991–92 | 9 | 19 | .321 | 6 | 10 | .375 | 6th | 0–1; Lost in quarterfinals | — | — | |
| 1992–93 | Dave Grube | 10 | 17 | .370 | 7 | 11 | .389 | 8th | 0–1; Lost in quarterfinals | — | — |
| 1993–94 | 13 | 14 | .481 | 8 | 10 | .444 | 8th | 0–1; Lost in quarterfinals | — | — | |
| 1994–95 | 8 | 19 | .296 | 5 | 13 | .278 | 8th | 0–1; Lost in quarterfinals | — | — | |
| 1995–96 | 14 | 13 | .519 | 8 | 10 | .444 | 8th | 0–1; Lost in quarterfinals | — | — | |
| 1996–97 | Gary Waters | 9 | 18 | .333 | 7 | 11 | .389 | 7th | 0–1; Lost in quarterfinals | — | — |
| 1997–98 | 13 | 17 | .433 | 9 | 9 | .500 | T-2nd-East | 1–1; Lost in semifinals | — | — | |
| 1998–99 | 23 | 7 | .767 | 13 | 5 | .722 | 2nd-East | 3–0; Won tournament | 0–1 in NCAA tournament | — | |
| 1999–00 | 23 | 8 | .742 | 13 | 5 | .722 | 2nd-East | 0–1; lost in quarterfinals | 2–1 in NIT | — | |
| 2000–01 | 24 | 10 | .706 | 13 | 5 | .722 | 1st-East | 3–0; Won tournament | 1–1 in NCAA tournament | — | |
| 2001–02 | Stan Heath | 30 | 6 | .833 | 17 | 1 | .944 | 1st-East | 3–0; Won tournament | 3–1 in NCAA tournament | 12th |
| 2002–03 | Jim Christian | 22 | 9 | .710 | 12 | 6 | .667 | 1st-East | 2–1; Lost in final | 0–1 in NIT | — |
| 2003–04 | 22 | 9 | .710 | 13 | 5 | .722 | 1st-East | 2–1; Lost in final | 0–1 in NIT | — | |
| 2004–05 | 20 | 13 | .606 | 11 | 7 | .611 | T-2nd-East | 2–1; Lost in quarterfinals | 0–1 in NIT | — | |
| 2005–06 | 25 | 9 | .735 | 15 | 3 | .833 | 1st-East | 3–0; Won tournament | 0–1 in NCAA tournament | — | |
| 2006–07 | 21 | 11 | .656 | 12 | 4 | .750 | 2nd-East | 1–1; Lost in semifinals | — | — | |
| 2007–08 | 28 | 7 | .800 | 13 | 3 | .813 | 1st-East | 3–0; Won tournament | 0–1 in NCAA tournament | — | |
| 2008–09 | Geno Ford | 19 | 15 | .559 | 10 | 6 | .625 | T-3rd-East | 1–1; Lost in quarterfinals | 0–1 in CIT | — |
| 2009–10 | 24 | 10 | .706 | 13 | 3 | .813 | 1st-East | 0–1; Lost in quarterfinals | 1–1 in NIT | — | |
| 2010–11 | 25 | 12 | .676 | 12 | 4 | .750 | 1st-East | 2–1; Lost in final | 2–1 in NIT | — | |
| 2011–12 | Rob Senderoff | 21 | 12 | .636 | 10 | 6 | .625 | 4th-East | 1–1; Lost in semifinals | 0–1 in CIT | — |
| 2012–13 | 21 | 14 | .600 | 9 | 7 | .563 | 3rd-East | 1–1; Lost in semifinals | 1–1 in CIT | — | |
| 2013–14 | 16 | 16 | .500 | 7 | 11 | .389 | 5th-East | 0–1; Lost in first round | — | — | |
| 2014–15 | 23 | 12 | .657 | 12 | 6 | .667 | T-1st-East | 0–1; Lost in quarterfinals | 2–1 in CIT | — | |
| 2015–16 | 19 | 13 | .594 | 10 | 8 | .556 | 3rd-East | 0–1; Lost in first round | — | — | |
| 2016–17 | 22 | 14 | .611 | 10 | 8 | .556 | 4th-East | 4–0; Won tournament | 0–1 in NCAA tournament | — | |
| 2017–18 | 17 | 17 | .500 | 9 | 9 | .500 | 2nd-East | 2–1; Lost in semifinals | — | — | |
| 2018–19 | 22 | 11 | .667 | 11 | 7 | .611 | 3rd-East | 0–1; Lost in quarterfinals | 0–1 in CIT | — | |
| 2019–20 | 20 | 12 | .625 | 9 | 9 | .500 | 4th-East | 1–0; tournament canceled | No postseason held | — | |
| 2020–21 | 15 | 8 | .652 | 12 | 6 | .667 | T-3rd | 0–1; Lost in quarterfinals | — | — | |
| 2021–22 | 23 | 11 | .676 | 16 | 4 | .800 | 2nd | 2–1; Lost in final | 0–1 in TBC | — | |
| 2022–23 | 28 | 7 | .800 | 15 | 3 | .833 | 2nd | 3–0; Won tournament | 0–1 in NCAA tournament | — | |
| 2023–24 | 17 | 17 | .500 | 8 | 10 | .444 | 8th | 2–1; Lost in final | — | — | |
| 2024–25 | 21 | 10 | .677 | 11 | 7 | .611 | 3rd | — | — | — | |
| Totals [1] | 109 seasons | 1,359 | 1,309 | .509 | 576 113 | 579 115 | .499 (MAC) .496 (OAC) | 6 MAC Regular-season titles 9 MAC East Division titles | 48–34 in MAC tournament 7 MAC Tournament titles | 4–7 in NCAA tournament 5–9 in NIT 3–5 in CIT 0–1 in TBC | |
| Conference division champions | Conference champions | Conference tournament champions | Postseason berth |