The U.S. Naval Academy began varsity intercollegiate competition in men's basketball in the 1907–08 season. Navy was retroactively recognized as the pre-NCAA tournament national champion for the 1912–13 and 1918–19 seasons by the Premo-Porretta Power Poll and for the 1912–13 season by the Helms Athletic Foundation.[3] The Midshipmen have appeared 11 times in the NCAA Tournament, most recently in 1998.
Early history
The Navy Midshipmen men's basketball program began play in the early 20th century, quickly establishing itself as one of the nation’s top teams. In the pre-NCAA Tournament era, Navy was retroactively recognized as national champions for the 1912–13 and 1918–19 seasons by the Premo-Porretta Power Poll.[4][5] The 1913 team finished with a perfect 9–0 record, while the 1919 squad posted a 10–0 mark. These early successes laid the foundation for Navy’s long-standing basketball tradition.
Tournament success (1986-2004)
Pete Herrmann served as head coach of the Navy Midshipmen men's basketball team from 1986 to 1992, succeeding Paul Evans. In his first season, he led the Midshipmen to a 26–6 record, winning both the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) regular season and tournament titles, and earning a berth in the NCAA Tournament. The season also marked the final collegiate campaign for All-American center David Robinson, who was selected first overall in the 1987 NBA Draft.[6][7]
In 1992, Don DeVoe succeeded Herrmann as head coach and held the position from 1992 to 2004. During his 12 seasons, DeVoe amassed a 184–161 record and led the Midshipmen to five Patriot League regular season titles and three Patriot League tournament championships. Under his leadership, Navy earned NCAA tournament berths in 1994, 1997, and 1998. DeVoe was named Patriot League Coach of the Year in 1994, 1997, and 2000.[8][9]
Present-day success (2020-present)
During the 2020–21 season, under head coach Ed DeChellis and assistant coach John Perry, the Navy Midshipmen men's basketball team posted a 15–3 overall record and went 12–1 in Patriot League play, winning the Patriot League South Division title.[10] The Midshipmen secured the No. 1 overall seed in the Patriot League Tournament for the first time since the 1996–97 season, but were upset in the quarterfinals by No. 9 seed Loyola (Maryland).[11]
In the 2024–25 season, Navy advanced to the Patriot League Tournament championship game as the No. 5 seed after upsetting top-seeded Bucknell in the semifinals, but fell to No. 2 seed American University, 74–52, in the final.[12] Following the season, Ed DeChellis retired after 14 seasons, and Jon Perry was promoted to head coach.[13]
Postseason history
NCAA tournament results
The Midshipmen have appeared in the NCAA tournament 11 times and made regional finals (the "Elite Eight") in 1947, 1954 and 1986. Their overall tournament record is 8–11.
↑ ESPN, ed. (2009). ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Men's Game. New York, NY: ESPN Books. pp.532–34. ISBN978-0-345-51392-2.
↑ Peterson, Robert W. (1991). Cagers: A History of College Basketball. Oxford University Press. ISBN9780195064198.{{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
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