VCU's basketball program was founded in 1968 after the merger of the Richmond Professional Institute and the Medical College of Virginia. The 'Rams' name was adopted in 1970, influenced by Richmond's colonial-era sheep farming history. VCU pulled off one of the most incredible tournament runs ever in 2011, becoming the first team to advance from the First Four to the Final Four under Shaka Smart's 'Havoc' defense. The Rams upset Georgetown, Purdue, Florida State, and top-seeded Kansas in consecutive games.
Originally named the 'Panthers' in 1968, VCU changed to 'Rams' in 1970, influenced by Richmond's colonial-era sheep farming history
The 2011 First Four-to-Final Four run under Shaka Smart, the first team ever to accomplish this feat, defeating five opponents including top-seeded Kansas
VCU's 2011 Final Four run was the first time a team advanced from the First Four play-in games all the way to the Final Four — coach Shaka Smart was named after the Zulu monarch Shaka kaSenzangakhona
The VCU Rams compete in the A-10 and hold an all-time record of 1085–565 (.658 winning percentage) across 53 recorded seasons dating back to 1973-74. The program has reached 1 Final Four.
| Season | Record | Conference | Coach | AP peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 26-7 | 15-3 (A-10) | Phil Martelli | |
| 2024-25 | 28-7 | 15-3 (A-10) | Ryan Odom | |
| 2023-24 | 24-14 | 11-7 (A-10) | Ryan Odom | |
| 2022-23 | 27-8 | 15-3 (A-10) | Mike Rhoades | |
| 2021-22 | 22-10 | 14-4 (A-10) | Mike Rhoades | |
| 2020-21 | 19-7 | 10-4 (A-10) | Mike Rhoades | |
| 2019-20 | 18-13 | 8-10 (A-10) | Mike Rhoades | AP #20 |
| 2018-19 | 25-8 | 16-2 (A-10) | Mike Rhoades | |
| 2017-18 | 18-15 | 9-9 (A-10) | Mike Rhoades | |
| 2016-17 | 26-9 | 14-4 (A-10) | Will Wade | |
| 2015-16 | 25-11 | 14-4 (A-10) | Will Wade | |
| 2014-15 | 26-10 | 12-6 (A-10) | Shaka Smart | AP #14 |
| 2013-14 | 26-9 | 12-4 (A-10) | Shaka Smart | AP #10 |
| 2012-13 | 27-9 | 12-4 (A-10) | Shaka Smart | AP #19 |
| 2011-12 | 29-7 | 15-3 (CAA) | Shaka Smart | |
| 2010-11 | 28-12 | 12-6 (CAA) | Shaka Smart | |
| 2009-10 | 27-9 | 11-7 (CAA) | Shaka Smart | |
| 2008-09 | 24-10 | 14-4 (CAA) | Anthony Grant | |
| 2007-08 | 24-8 | 15-3 (CAA) | Anthony Grant | |
| 2006-07 | 28-7 | 16-2 (CAA) | Anthony Grant | |
| 2005-06 | 19-10 | 11-7 (CAA) | Jeff Capel | |
| 2004-05 | 19-13 | 13-5 (CAA) | Jeff Capel | |
| 2003-04 | 23-8 | 14-4 (CAA) | Jeff Capel | |
| 2002-03 | 18-10 | 12-6 (CAA) | Jeff Capel | |
| 2001-02 | 21-11 | 11-7 (CAA) | Mack McCarthy | |
| 2000-01 | 16-14 | 9-7 (CAA) | Mack McCarthy | |
| 1999-00 | 14-14 | 7-9 (CAA) | Mack McCarthy | |
| 1998-99 | 15-16 | 8-8 (CAA) | Mack McCarthy | |
| 1997-98 | 9-19 | 4-12 (CAA) | Sonny Smith | |
| 1996-97 | 14-13 | 9-7 (CAA) | Sonny Smith | |
| 1995-96 | 24-9 | 14-2 (CAA) | Sonny Smith | |
| 1994-95 | 16-14 | 3-9 (Metro) | Sonny Smith | |
| 1993-94 | 14-13 | 5-7 (Metro) | Sonny Smith | |
| 1992-93 | 20-10 | 7-5 (Metro) | Sonny Smith | |
| 1991-92 | 14-15 | 5-7 (Metro) | Sonny Smith | |
| 1990-91 | 14-17 | 7-7 (Sun Belt) | Sonny Smith | |
| 1989-90 | 11-17 | 5-9 (Sun Belt) | Sonny Smith | |
| 1988-89 | 13-15 | 9-5 (Sun Belt) | Mike Pollio | |
| 1987-88 | 23-12 | 10-4 (Sun Belt) | Mike Pollio | |
| 1986-87 | 17-14 | 7-7 (Sun Belt) | Mike Pollio | |
| 1985-86 | 12-16 | 6-8 (Sun Belt) | Mike Pollio | |
| 1984-85 | 26-6 | 12-2 (Sun Belt) | J.D. Barnett | AP #11 |
| 1983-84 | 23-7 | 11-3 (Sun Belt) | J.D. Barnett | AP #20 |
| 1982-83 | 24-7 | 12-2 (Sun Belt) | J.D. Barnett | |
| 1981-82 | 17-11 | 7-3 (Sun Belt) | J.D. Barnett | |
| 1980-81 | 24-5 | 9-3 (Sun Belt) | J.D. Barnett | |
| 1979-80 | 18-12 | 8-6 (Sun Belt) | J.D. Barnett | |
| 1978-79 | 20-5 | Ind | Dana Kirk | |
| 1977-78 | 24-5 | Ind | Dana Kirk | |
| 1976-77 | 13-13 | Ind | Dana Kirk | |
| 1975-76 | 16-9 | Ind | Chuck Noe | |
| 1974-75 | 17-8 | Ind | Chuck Noe | |
| 1973-74 | 17-7 | Ind | Chuck Noe |
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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 |
|---|