DEPAUL’S CHRIS HOLTMANN RECIPIENT OF 2026 SKIP PROSSER AWARD
Honors those who win with integrity on and off the court

INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- DePaul’s Chris Holtmann is the recipient of the 2026 Skip Prosser Man of the Year award. The award is presented annually to the division I coach who wins with integrity on and off the court.

In his brief time at DePaul, Holtmann has completely changed the tenor of the program, on and off the court. His 30 wins in two years are the most for a Blue Demon head coach through their first two seasons in nearly 20 years (Jerry Wainwright 2005-07).

"Chris Holtmann has won at every stop in his career," said Angela Lento, Vice President of College Insider, Inc. and member of the Skip Prosser award voting panel. "Along with John Calipari and Bill Self, Coach Holtmann is one of just three current coaches to post nine consecutive 20-win seasons while coaching at three successive schools. He's a winner and first-class individual on and off the court. There is no doubt in my mind that he will get the Blue Demons back to the NCAA Tournament."

DePaul was picked to finish 9th in the Big East preseason poll, its highest since the Blue Demons were picked eighth in 2015-16. Holtmann's team won 8 conference games, which were the most-ever for the program in the Big East and they entered the conference tournament as the No. 6 seed, which was the highest in school history.

Holtmann's team got it done on the defensive end. The Blue Demons held opponents to an average of 69.8 points per game, which ranks 3rd in the Big East and Top 65 nationally. On Jan. 6, DePaul held Georgetown to just one second half field goal, tying the NCAA record. Georgetown's 22.6 field goal percentage was the lowest DePaul has held an opponent to in a conference game since Feb. 16, 2000.

In just two seasons, Holtmann has set the tone for a new era of Blue Demon basketball.

Beyond the court, Holtmann has built strong connections within the DePaul community. Since arriving in Chicago, Holtmann has purchased lunch for students the day after each home victory. This season, Holtmann and his wife, Lori, also provided food for two buses of students who traveled to Milwaukee for DePaul's Big East matchup against Marquette.

Though largely private, Holtmann and his family have made numerous contributions throughout the Chicagoland, Columbus and Indianapolis communities.

Prior to taking the helm at DePaul, Holtmann spent 7 seasons at Ohio State, leading the program to 4 NCAA Tournament appearances. Prior to that he led Butler to 3 NCAA tournaments in as many years. He began his head coaching career at Gardner-Webb where he led the program to its first-ever postseason appearance.

Holtmann achieved 9-consecutive 20-win seasons spanning his time at Gardner-Webb (2012–13), Butler (2014–17), and Ohio State (2017–22). This streak included his final season at Gardner-Webb (21 wins), three seasons at Butler (23, 22, 25 wins), and his first five seasons at Ohio State (25, 20, 21, 21, 20 wins).

The Skip Prosser Man of the Year award honors those who not only achieve success on the basketball court but who display moral integrity on and off it as well.

In six years with the Deacons, Prosser posted a 126-68 record. For his career, he was 291-146 in 14 seasons including six as the head coach at Xavier and one year at Loyola (Md.).

At Wake Forest, Prosser's teams averaged 21 wins per season while playing in arguably the nation's most difficult league, the Atlantic Coast Conference. Prosser won 100 games at an ACC school quicker than all but two coaches in the 55-year history of the conference.

He coached NBA stars Chris Paul and Josh Howard, led the Demon Deacons to the first No. 1 national ranking in school history and earned ACC Coach of the Year honors in 2003.

Prosser passed away of an apparent heart attack on July 26, 2007, in his office at Wake Forest. He had just returned from his morning jog.

  SKIP PROSSER AWARD FINALISTS

PREVIOUS AWARD WINNERS
Mark Byington, Vanderbilt (2025); Niko Medved, Colorado State (2024); Pat Skerry, Towson (2023); Jay McAuley, Wofford (2022); Lew Hill, UTRGV (2021); Mark Prosser, Western Carolina (2020); Robert Jones, Norfolk State (2019); Casey Alexander, Lipscomb (2018); Danny Manning, Wake Forest (2017); Zack Spiker, Army (2016); Keno Davis, Central Michigan (2015); Brian Wardle, Green Bay (2014); Joe Mihalich, Niagara (2013); Jimmy Patsos, Loyola MD (2012); Chris Mack, Xavier (2011); Bob Marlin, Sam Houston State (2010); Ed Conroy, The Citadel (2009); Mike Brey, Notre Dame (2008).

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