American University's basketball program began in 1925 in Washington, D.C. The Eagles compete in the Patriot League and have won multiple conference championships. The program has enjoyed NCAA Tournament appearances in recent decades.
The Eagles nickname was adopted as a patriotic symbol befitting a university named 'American' and located in the nation's capital.
Winning the 2014 Patriot League Tournament to earn the program's third NCAA Tournament appearance, capped by a 55-36 rout of top-seeded Boston University in the final.
American University's Bender Arena is located just miles from the White House, making it one of the closest Division I basketball venues to the seat of American government.
The American University Eagles compete in the Patriot League and hold an all-time record of 840–866 (.492 winning percentage) across 60 recorded seasons dating back to 1966-67.
| Season | Record | Conference | Coach | AP peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 16-16 | 9-9 (Patriot) | Duane Simpkins | |
| 2024-25 | 22-13 | 13-5 (Patriot) | Duane Simpkins | |
| 2023-24 | 16-16 | 10-8 (Patriot) | Duane Simpkins | |
| 2022-23 | 17-15 | 7-11 (Patriot) | Mike Brennan | |
| 2021-22 | 10-22 | 5-13 (Patriot) | Mike Brennan | |
| 2020-21 | 4-6 | 4-5 (Patriot) | Mike Brennan | |
| 2019-20 | 16-14 | 12-6 (Patriot) | Mike Brennan | |
| 2018-19 | 15-15 | 9-9 (Patriot) | Mike Brennan | |
| 2017-18 | 6-24 | 3-15 (Patriot) | Mike Brennan | |
| 2016-17 | 8-22 | 5-13 (Patriot) | Mike Brennan | |
| 2015-16 | 12-19 | 9-9 (Patriot) | Mike Brennan | |
| 2014-15 | 17-16 | 8-10 (Patriot) | Mike Brennan | |
| 2013-14 | 20-13 | 13-5 (Patriot) | Mike Brennan | |
| 2012-13 | 10-20 | 5-9 (Patriot) | Jeff Jones | |
| 2011-12 | 20-12 | 10-4 (Patriot) | Jeff Jones | |
| 2010-11 | 22-9 | 11-3 (Patriot) | Jeff Jones | |
| 2009-10 | 11-20 | 7-7 (Patriot) | Jeff Jones | |
| 2008-09 | 24-8 | 13-1 (Patriot) | Jeff Jones | |
| 2007-08 | 21-12 | 10-4 (Patriot) | Jeff Jones | |
| 2006-07 | 16-14 | 7-7 (Patriot) | Jeff Jones | |
| 2005-06 | 12-17 | 7-7 (Patriot) | Jeff Jones | |
| 2004-05 | 16-12 | 8-6 (Patriot) | Jeff Jones | |
| 2003-04 | 18-13 | 10-4 (Patriot) | Jeff Jones | |
| 2002-03 | 16-14 | 9-5 (Patriot) | Jeff Jones | |
| 2001-02 | 18-12 | 10-4 (Patriot) | Jeff Jones | |
| 2000-01 | 7-20 | 3-13 (CAA) | Jeff Jones | |
| 1999-00 | 11-18 | 5-11 (CAA) | Art Perry | |
| 1998-99 | 7-21 | 2-14 (CAA) | Art Perry | |
| 1997-98 | 9-19 | 5-11 (CAA) | Art Perry | |
| 1996-97 | 11-16 | 7-9 (CAA) | Chris Knoche | |
| 1995-96 | 12-15 | 8-8 (CAA) | Chris Knoche | |
| 1994-95 | 9-19 | 7-7 (CAA) | Chris Knoche | |
| 1993-94 | 8-19 | 5-9 (CAA) | Chris Knoche | |
| 1992-93 | 11-17 | 6-8 (CAA) | Chris Knoche | |
| 1991-92 | 11-18 | 8-6 (CAA) | Chris Knoche | |
| 1990-91 | 15-14 | 8-6 (CAA) | Chris Knoche | |
| 1989-90 | 20-9 | 10-4 (CAA) | Ed Tapscott | |
| 1988-89 | 17-11 | 9-5 (CAA) | Ed Tapscott | |
| 1987-88 | 14-14 | 9-5 (CAA) | Ed Tapscott | |
| 1986-87 | 13-14 | 5-9 (CAA) | Ed Tapscott | |
| 1985-86 | 10-18 | 3-11 (CAA) | Ed Tapscott | |
| 1984-85 | 9-19 | 3-11 (ECACS) | Ed Tapscott | |
| 1983-84 | 6-22 | 5-11 (ECC) | Ed Tapscott | |
| 1982-83 | 20-10 | 7-2 (ECC) | Ed Tapscott | |
| 1981-82 | 21-9 | 8-3 (ECC) | Gary Williams | |
| 1980-81 | 24-6 | 11-0 (ECC) | Gary Williams | |
| 1979-80 | 13-14 | 5-6 (ECC) | Gary Williams | |
| 1978-79 | 14-13 | 7-5 (ECC) | Gary Williams | |
| 1977-78 | 16-12 | 2-3 (ECC) | Jim Lynam | |
| 1976-77 | 13-13 | 2-3 (ECC) | Jim Lynam | |
| 1975-76 | 9-16 | 1-4 (ECC) | Jim Lynam | |
| 1974-75 | 16-10 | 5-1 (ECC) | Jim Lynam | |
| 1973-74 | 16-10 | 4-2 (Mid-Atl) | Jim Lynam | |
| 1972-73 | 21-5 | 4-2 (Mid-Atl) | Tom Young | |
| 1971-72 | 16-8 | 3-3 (Mid-Atl) | Tom Young | |
| 1970-71 | 13-12 | 2-4 (Mid-Atl) | Tom Young | |
| 1969-70 | 11-12 | 2-3 (Mid-Atl) | Tom Young | |
| 1968-69 | 4-19 | 0-7 (Mid-Atl) | Alan Kyber | |
| 1967-68 | 14-12 | 5-2 (Mid-Atl) | Alan Kyber | |
| 1966-67 | 16-8 | 3-3 (Mid-Atl) | Alan Kyber |
Army Black Knights · Boston University Terriers · Bucknell Bison · Colgate Raiders · Holy Cross Crusaders · Lafayette Leopards · Lehigh Mountain Hawks · Loyola Maryland Greyhounds · Navy Midshipmen
All Division I programs · Historical rankings · Championship journeys · Hoopsipedia home
| 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 |
|---|