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John Becker (basketball)

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John Becker
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamVermont
ConferenceAmerica East
Record224–94 (.704)
Biographical details
Born (1968-04-16) April 16, 1968 (age 56)
Fairfield, Connecticut
Alma materCatholic University
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1994–1997Gallaudet (assistant)
1997–1999Gallaudet
2004–2006Catholic University (assistant)
2006–2011Vermont (assistant)
2011–presentVermont
Head coaching record
Overall226–138 (.621)
TournamentsNCAA: 1–3
NIT: 0–2
CBI: 4–3
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
3x America East Tournament (2012, 2017, 2019)
5× America East regular season (2014, 2017–2020)
Awards
5× America East Coach of the Year (2014, 2017–2020)

John Becker (born April 17, 1968) is an American college basketball coach, currently the head coach of the Vermont Catamounts of the America East Conference.[1] He replaced Mike Lonergan, who left to become the coach at George Washington University.

Coaching career

Gallaudet/Catholic University

Becker's college coaching career began in 1994 when he became an assistant at Gallaudet University in Washington D.C. In 1997, Becker was elevated to head coach of the Bison, where he served from 1997 to 1999. Becker also served as the men's tennis coach, despite never playing the game, and also worked in the information technology field, as the coaching positions were part-time. He briefly left coaching to pursue a master's degree in information systems at George Washington University, however in 2004 Becker returned to coaching at his alma mater Catholic as an assistant coach under Steve Howes. While at Catholic, he helped guide the team to a 41–17 record, which included a 21–7 mark and NCAA Division III Tournament appearance in 2005–06. His first year with Catholic saw the Cardinals go 20-10 and advance to the Capital Athletic Conference Championship game.[2]

Vermont

In 2006–07, Becker joined the Vermont staff as director of basketball operations, serving in the role for two seasons before being promoted to assistant coach. As an assistant, UVM earned three postseason berths, including the 2010 NCAA Tournament.[3] On May 10, 2011, Becker was named interim head coach of the Catamounts while search was conducted.[4] On May 20, 2011, Vermont lifted the interim tag and named Becker the 16th coach in Vermont basketball history.[5]

2011–12

In his first year in charge of the Catamounts, Becker led Vermont to a second-place finish in the America East Conference with a 24-12 overall record and 13–3 mark in conference, winning the America East Championship for Vermont's fifth NCAA Tournament bid in nine years, defeating Stony Brook 51–43. Becker became just the second first-year head coach since Northeastern's Karl Fogel to win the conference tournament. He also set a Vermont record for most wins by a first-year head coach, breaking a 90-year-old record set by Tom Keady in the 1921–22 season with a 73–63 win on the road over Maine. In its NCAA First Round match up the Catamounts picked up their second-ever NCAA Tournament win, defeating Lamar 71-59 before falling to top-seeded North Carolina 77–58 in the Second Round.

2012–13

The 2012–13 season saw Vermont post another 20-win season, coupled with an appearance in the America East Championship game. Becker became just the second coach in league history to post back-to-back 20-win seasons in his first two seasons, along with two-straight appearances in the title game, joining Pat Chambers. The Catamounts were defeated at home by Albany 53–49, and elected to participate in the 2013 College Basketball Invitational, where it fell to Santa Clara 77–66 in the first round.

2013–14

In his third season with the Catamounts, Becker guided Vermont to a 15–1 mark and an America East regular season championship. The 20-win season made Becker the first coach in America East history to post three-straight 20-win seasons in his first three seasons, and it was the 11th time in the last 13 seasons UVM eclipsed the 20-win mark. Despite this, Vermont was defeated by fourth-seeded Albany, 67–58, in the America East Championship semifinals. By virtue of winning the regular season, the Catamounts earned an automatic berth in the 2014 NIT.

2014–15

With nine freshman and sophomores on the roster, Vermont earned its seventh-straight 20 win season, and the 12th out of the last 14 years. Becker became the only coach in Vermont and America East history to win 20 games each of his first four years. Finishing second in the America East regular season, the Catamounts fell at home in the semifinals of the America East playoffs, and accepted a bid to the 2015 College Basketball Invitational. It was UVM's seventh-straight postseason appearance, and with wins over Hofstra in the opening round and Radford in the quarterfinals, the Catamounts earned their second and third CBI wins before falling to Louisiana-Monroe in the semifinals.

2015–16

After a 6–5 start to America East play, Vermont went on an eight-game win streak to reach the finals of the 2016 America East Conference Tournament championship game, where it fell 80–74 to Stony Brook. Becker guided the Catamounts to its fifth-straight 20-win season, and a bid to the 2016 College Basketball Invitational where the Catamounts made its second-straight semifinal appearance. It marked eight years in a row that UVM has participated in a postseason tournament. On January 27, 2016, Becker picked up his 100th overall victory at Vermont, with a 66–50 win over the New Hampshire.[6] The feat was accomplished in 158 games, which ties Mike Lonergan for fastest to reach 100 wins by a UVM coach.

2016–17

Becker guided the Catamounts to a historic season, setting a program record for wins, and a perfect 16–0 mark in America East play, marking only the third time in league history that a team completed the regular season undefeated. For his coaching efforts, Becker earned his second America East Coach of the Year award, while Catamount players swept all major conference awards.[7] Becker also moved into third all-time in wins at UVM. Vermont continued its run in the 2017 America East Men's Basketball Tournament, capturing its sixth conference tournament title to earn a berth in the 2017 NCAA Tournament. As a 13-seed with the longest win streak in the country at 21-straight heading into the tournament, the Catamounts faced fourth-seeded Purdue in the first round, falling 80-70 and finishing with an overall record of 29–6.

2017–18

With reigning America East Player of the Year Trae Bell-Haynes and nine other returnees, the Catamounts continued its run of form in America East play earning its ninth conference regular season championship and second-straight America East regular season crown, going 15–1 in conference, with its only loss coming to Hartford on February 18, 2018, snapping a run of 31 straight wins against America East opponents, and a 15-game win streak.[8] Becker once again was awarded America East Coach of the Year honors, sharing the award with Hartford's John Gallagher.[9] Vermont reached the America East Championship game for the third time in as many years, falling at home to future NCAA Tournament darling UMBC 65–62.[10] As the conference's regular season champion, the Catamounts participated in the 2018 NIT where as a six seed, Vermont faced Middle Tennessee, and was defeated 91–64 to finish the season 27–8. The 27 wins is tied for second-most in school history, behind the 2016-17 campaign's 29 wins.

2018–19

During the 2018–19 season, Becker guided the Catamounts to its third-straight America East regular season championship and its seventh overall America East tournament championship.[11][12] For the fourth time, Becker was also named America East Coach of the Year.[13] The Catamounts drew a 13-seed in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament and were defeated by Florida State 76–69 to finish the season 27–7.[14]

On February 2, 2019 the Catamounts' 74–65 win over UMass Lowell marked Becker's 100th win in conference play.[15][16] He set a new America East record as the fastest head coach to reach 100 conference wins, doing so in his 120th conference game, tying Kansas' Bill Self for fourth on the all-time list for NCAA Division I men's basketball. The only other men's coaches in Division I (and its predecessors) to reach the milestone in fewer conference games are Mark Few (112 games with Gonzaga), Adolph Rupp (116 with Kentucky), and John Chaney (118 with Temple).[16] At the close of the season, Becker was named the USBWA district I coach of the year for the third consecutive season.[17][18][19]

2019–20

With the return of reigning America East Player of the year Anthony Lamb, Becker guided the Catamounts to its fourth-straight outright regular season title, which set a league record while also earning his record fifth America East Coach of the Year award.[20] He would lead Vermont to a 26–7 overall record, including a win over St. John's for the team's first win over a Big East opponent in its current formation.[21] He also earned his 200th career win at Vermont with a 55–38 win over Towson on December 7, 2019.[22] The Catamounts would reach the America East tournament final for fifth-straight season, but the title game was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[23]

Head coaching record

NCAA DIII

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Gallaudet (Capital Athletic Conference) (1997–1999)
1997–98 Gallaudet 3–22 1–13 8th
1998–99 Gallaudet 3–22 1–13 8th
Gallaudet: 6–44 (.120) 2–26 (.071)
Total: 6–44 (.120)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

NCAA DI

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Vermont (America East Conference) (2011–present)
2011–12 Vermont 24–12 13–3 2nd NCAA Second Round
2012–13 Vermont 21–12 11–5 2nd CBI First Round
2013–14 Vermont 22–11 15–1 1st NIT First Round
2014–15 Vermont 20–14 12–4 T–2nd CBI Semifinals
2015–16 Vermont 23–14 11–5 T–3rd CBI Semifinals
2016–17 Vermont 29–6 16–0 1st NCAA First Round
2017–18 Vermont 27–8 15–1 1st NIT First Round
2018–19 Vermont 27–7 14–2 1st NCAA First Round
2019–20 Vermont 26–7 14–2 1st NCAA Tournament cancelled due to COVID-19
2020–21 Vermont 6–3 6–3
Vermont: 225–94 (.705) 127–26 (.830)
Total: 225–94 (.705)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

  1. ^ "Source: Becker named UVM men's basketball coach". burlingtonfreepress.com. Retrieved 20 May 2011.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "Vermont coach John Becker's route to the NCAA tournament included an IT job, a pay cut and tennis". Retrieved 15 March 2012.
  3. ^ "UVM Athletics".
  4. ^ http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20110510/SPORTS0101/110510027
  5. ^ "Vermont Names John Becker Head Men's Basketball Coach". Retrieved 20 May 2011.
  6. ^ "Becker Gets 100 as Catamounts Pick Up Road Win at UNH".
  7. ^ "Men's Hoops Sweep America East Major Awards, Henson and Duncan Earn All-Conference Honors".
  8. ^ "Hartford ends Cats' winning streaks".
  9. ^ "Bell-Haynes Repeats as Player of Year to Highlight 2017-18 Men's #AEHoops Awards".
  10. ^ "Men's Hoops Falls Short in America East Title Game - University of Vermont". Vermont Catamounts.
  11. ^ "Men's Hoops Beats Stony Brook 56-50 for Third Consecutive America East Regular Season Crown". University of Vermont Athletics.
  12. ^ "America East championship: Vermont books NCAA tournament berth, topples UMBC". Burlington Free Press.
  13. ^ "Four Cats Earn All-America East Honors; Becker and Lamb Major Award Winners". University of Vermont Athletics.
  14. ^ Eaton-Robb, Pat (21 March 2019). "Kabengele, Mann lead 4th-seed FSU over hot-shooting Vermont". AP NEWS.
  15. ^ "Lamb has 29 points, leads Vermont over UMass Lowell 74-65". ESPN.com. Associated Press. February 2, 2019. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  16. ^ a b Forde, Pat (February 11, 2019). "3 rivalries that will likely decide conference titles, top NCAA seeds and bragging rights". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  17. ^ "Becker, Lamb Earn USBWA District I Honors". uvmathletics.com. Retrieved 7 Mar 2017.
  18. ^ "NABC Announces Division I All-District Coaches". NABC. 21 March 2018.
  19. ^ "NABC Names Division I All-District Coaches". NABC. 22 March 2019.
  20. ^ "Lamb's Second Player of Year Honor Highlights 2019-20 Men's #AEHoops Honors" (Press release). America East Conference. March 6, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  21. ^ "Men's Hoops Takes Down St. John's with Lamb's Late Jumper". University of Vermont Athletics.
  22. ^ "Smith's Season-High 25 Points Lead Catamounts Over Towson". University of Vermont Athletics.
  23. ^ "America East Cancels Basketball Championship Games". americaeast.com.
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