Coppin State's basketball program started around 1938 at the HBCU in Baltimore, Maryland. The Eagles compete in the MEAC and are best remembered for their stunning 1997 NCAA Tournament upset. Coach Fang Mitchell built the program into a MEAC power in the 1990s.
The Eagles nickname was chosen to represent the soaring ambition and vision of the university, named after Fanny Jackson Coppin, a pioneering African American educator.
The stunning 78-65 upset of second-seeded South Carolina in the first round of the 1997 NCAA Tournament as a No. 15 seed, one of the most shocking upsets in March Madness history.
Coppin State's 1997 upset of South Carolina was just the third time a No. 15 seed had beaten a No. 2 seed in NCAA Tournament history, and coach Fang Mitchell became a folk hero in Baltimore.
The Coppin State Eagles compete in the MEAC and hold an all-time record of 530–709 (.428 winning percentage) across 41 recorded seasons dating back to 1985-86.
| Season | Record | Conference | Coach | AP peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 7-24 | 5-9 (MEAC) | Larry Stewart | |
| 2024-25 | 6-24 | 4-10 (MEAC) | Larry Stewart | |
| 2023-24 | 2-27 | 1-13 (MEAC) | Larry Stewart | |
| 2022-23 | 9-23 | 4-10 (MEAC) | Juan Dixon | |
| 2021-22 | 9-23 | 6-8 (MEAC) | Juan Dixon | |
| 2020-21 | 9-13 | 8-4 (MEAC) | Juan Dixon | |
| 2019-20 | 11-20 | 7-9 (MEAC) | Juan Dixon | |
| 2018-19 | 8-25 | 7-9 (MEAC) | Juan Dixon | |
| 2017-18 | 5-27 | 5-11 (MEAC) | Juan Dixon | |
| 2016-17 | 8-24 | 7-9 (MEAC) | Michael Grant | |
| 2015-16 | 9-22 | 6-10 (MEAC) | Michael Grant | |
| 2014-15 | 8-23 | 6-10 (MEAC) | Michael Grant | |
| 2013-14 | 12-20 | 7-9 (MEAC) | Fang Mitchell | |
| 2012-13 | 8-24 | 5-11 (MEAC) | Fang Mitchell | |
| 2011-12 | 14-16 | 9-7 (MEAC) | Fang Mitchell | |
| 2010-11 | 16-14 | 11-5 (MEAC) | Fang Mitchell | |
| 2009-10 | 8-22 | 3-13 (MEAC) | Fang Mitchell | |
| 2008-09 | 13-19 | 9-7 (MEAC) | Fang Mitchell | |
| 2007-08 | 16-21 | 7-9 (MEAC) | Fang Mitchell | |
| 2006-07 | 12-20 | 9-9 (MEAC) | Fang Mitchell | |
| 2005-06 | 12-18 | 12-6 (MEAC) | Fang Mitchell | |
| 2004-05 | 14-15 | 13-5 (MEAC) | Fang Mitchell | |
| 2003-04 | 18-14 | 14-4 (MEAC) | Fang Mitchell | |
| 2002-03 | 11-17 | 11-7 (MEAC) | Fang Mitchell | |
| 2001-02 | 6-25 | 3-15 (MEAC) | Fang Mitchell | |
| 2000-01 | 13-15 | 11-8 (MEAC) | Fang Mitchell | |
| 1999-00 | 15-15 | 13-5 (MEAC) | Fang Mitchell | |
| 1998-99 | 15-14 | 14-4 (MEAC) | Fang Mitchell | |
| 1997-98 | 21-8 | 17-1 (MEAC) | Fang Mitchell | |
| 1996-97 | 22-9 | 15-3 (MEAC) | Fang Mitchell | |
| 1995-96 | 19-10 | 14-2 (MEAC) | Fang Mitchell | |
| 1994-95 | 21-10 | 15-1 (MEAC) | Fang Mitchell | |
| 1993-94 | 22-8 | 16-0 (MEAC) | Fang Mitchell | |
| 1992-93 | 22-8 | 16-0 (MEAC) | Fang Mitchell | |
| 1991-92 | 15-13 | 9-7 (MEAC) | Fang Mitchell | |
| 1990-91 | 19-11 | 14-2 (MEAC) | Fang Mitchell | |
| 1989-90 | 26-7 | 15-1 (MEAC) | Fang Mitchell | |
| 1988-89 | 18-11 | 11-5 (MEAC) | Fang Mitchell | |
| 1987-88 | 13-14 | 8-7 (MEAC) | Fang Mitchell | |
| 1986-87 | 8-19 | 7-6 (MEAC) | Fang Mitchell | |
| 1985-86 | 10-17 | 7-7 (MEAC) | John Bates |
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| Rank | Team | Conference | All-Time Wins |
|---|
Top 100 by all-time D1 wins. Verified against the NCAA record book — and tiered so you can argue properly.
| # | COACH | RECORD | WIN % | SCHOOL(S) | YEARS | BEST SEASON / LEGACY |
|---|