University of Richmond Athletics
Roussell Named to 2026 Kathy Delaney-Smith Mid-Major Coach of the Year Preseason Watch List
10/29/2025 | Women's Basketball
RICHMOND, Va. — University of Richmond women's basketball head coach Aaron Roussell has been named to the 2026 Kathy Delaney-Smith Mid-Major Coach of the Year Preseason Watch List for the second-straight season, Her Hoop Stats announced on Wednesday.
The honor recognizes 20 coaches from 13 conferences across Division I women's basketball who have demonstrated excellence leading mid-major programs. Roussell, who enters his seventh season at the helm of the Spiders in 2025-26, was the 2025 recipient of the award following a historic campaign that saw Richmond capture its second straight Atlantic 10 regular season title and earn the program's first NCAA Tournament victory.
Under Roussell's direction, the Spiders finished 28-7 overall and 17-1 in Atlantic 10 play last season, setting a program record with a 17-game winning streak. Richmond went 12-2 at home, 11-1 on the road and 5-4 at neutral sites while collecting marquee wins over Fairfield, Oklahoma State and Columbia. The Spiders defeated No. 9 Georgia Tech in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before falling in a close second-round matchup at No. 1 UCLA.
Roussell was named Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season, along with earning ECAC Coach of the Year and the 2025 Kathy Delaney-Smith Mid-Major Coach of the Year honors. His 2024-25 squad ranked among the nation's top 25 in both field-goal and three-point percentage while finishing as one of only three mid-majors to end the season in the top 75 of the NCAA NET rankings and win a game in the NCAA Tournament.
Now in his 22nd season as a head coach, Roussell owns a career record of 434-186 (.696) and has led programs at Richmond, Bucknell and the University of Chicago. He has guided the Spiders to 122 wins over six seasons, including three straight 20-win campaigns and back-to-back Atlantic 10 titles for the first time in program history.
Her Hoop Stats will narrow the 20-person preseason list to 10 coaches in January, before naming five finalists in March and announcing the 2026 winner around the Final Four.