Boston, MA-Cleveland State head men's basketball coach Daniyal Robinson has been named one of 25 finalists for the Ben Jobe National Coach of the Year award. The award is presented annually by collegeinsider.com and honors the top minority head coach in the country.
 
The award honors the late Ben Jobe who was a long-time head coach at several Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Jobe is best known for his time as the head coach at Southern University where he spent 12 seasons and amassed over 200 wins.
 
Robinson is the most successful coach in Cleveland State history in his first three seasons as he has led the Vikings to three straight 20-plus win campaigns. This year he led CSU to a second-place finish in the regular season standings and a 21-12 overall record. That included a 13-game winning streak that stood as one of the longest active streaks in the country in late January. This is the second time that Robinson has been named a finalist after being named to the list following his first season in 2022-23.
 
The award is voted on by a 10-member committee which consists of current and former head coaches as well as two senior staff members from collegeinsider.com. The winner of the 2025 award will be announced in San Antonio, TX during the 2025 NCAA Men's Final Four.
 
2025 BEN JOBE AWARD FINALISTS
 
Alvin Brooks, Lamar
Penny Collins, Tennessee State
Chris Crutchfield, Omaha
Travis DeCuire, Montana
Dennis Gates, Missouri
Penny Hardaway, Memphis
Cornelius Jackson, Marshall
Kevin Johnson, Southern
James Jones, Yale
Mike Jones, UNCG
Robert Jones, Norfolk State
Chris Markwood, Maine
Erik Martin, South Carolina State
Ritchie McKay, Liberty
Antoine Pettway, Kennesaw State
Richie Riley, South Alabama
Daniyal Robinson, Cleveland State
Kelvin Sampson, Houston
Patrick Sellers, Central Connecticut State
Takayo Siddle, UNCW
Duane Simpkins, American
Tony Skinn, George Mason
Shaka Smart, Marquette
Damon Stoudamire, Georgia Tech
Drew Valentine, Loyola Chicago