Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson, a 1991 UR alum, was recently named the NBA’s Coach of the Year for the 2024–2025 season. Atkinson led the Cavaliers to a 64-18 record in his first season with the team. The Cavs won the Central Division title and finished as the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

“You know with all the great coaches in this league, to be singled out to be Coach of the Year, it’s just an honor,” Atkinson said on Inside the NBA.

While the Cavs ultimately fell to the Indiana Pacers during the playoffs, they set several records this season, including the second-most wins in franchise history. The team started the season 15-0 and later held a 16-game winning streak, the longest in the NBA this year. The Cavs led the NBA in scoring average at 121.9 points per game, and set franchise records with 30 road victories and 1,303 three-pointers.

Atkinson also served as head coach for the 74th NBA All-Star Game, where three Cavs players — Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley — were selected to play.