Bethune-Cookman's basketball program dates to around 1930 at the HBCU in Daytona Beach, Florida, founded by the legendary educator Mary McLeod Bethune. The Wildcats compete in the SWAC and have won multiple conference championships. The program carries the proud legacy of one of America's most important historically Black institutions.
The Wildcats nickname was chosen to represent the fierce, competitive spirit of the university's athletic teams.
Winning the 2011 MEAC regular-season championship and earning the program's first Division I postseason berth in that year's NIT, one of the program's signature achievements.
Bethune-Cookman was founded in 1904 by Mary McLeod Bethune with just $1.50 and five students, making its rise to Division I athletics one of the most inspiring stories in college sports.
The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats compete in the SWAC and hold an all-time record of 505–841 (.375 winning percentage) across 45 recorded seasons dating back to 1980-81.
| Season | Record | Conference | Coach | AP peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 17-15 | 14-4 (SWAC) | Reggie Theus | |
| 2024-25 | 17-16 | 13-5 (SWAC) | Reggie Theus | |
| 2023-24 | 17-17 | 11-7 (SWAC) | Reggie Theus | |
| 2022-23 | 12-20 | 8-10 (SWAC) | Reggie Theus | |
| 2021-22 | 9-21 | 7-11 (SWAC) | Reggie Theus | |
| 2019-20 | 16-14 | 10-6 (MEAC) | Ryan Ridder | |
| 2018-19 | 14-17 | 9-7 (MEAC) | Ryan Ridder | |
| 2017-18 | 18-14 | 12-4 (MEAC) | Ryan Ridder | |
| 2016-17 | 10-22 | 6-10 (MEAC) | Gravelle Craig | |
| 2015-16 | 14-18 | 10-6 (MEAC) | Gravelle Craig | |
| 2014-15 | 11-21 | 7-9 (MEAC) | Gravelle Craig | |
| 2013-14 | 7-25 | 5-11 (MEAC) | Gravelle Craig | |
| 2012-13 | 14-20 | 7-9 (MEAC) | Gravelle Craig | |
| 2011-12 | 18-17 | 11-5 (MEAC) | Gravelle Craig | |
| 2010-11 | 21-13 | 13-3 (MEAC) | Clifford Reed | |
| 2009-10 | 17-16 | 7-9 (MEAC) | Clifford Reed | |
| 2008-09 | 17-16 | 9-7 (MEAC) | Clifford Reed | |
| 2007-08 | 11-21 | 5-11 (MEAC) | Clifford Reed | |
| 2006-07 | 9-21 | 6-12 (MEAC) | Clifford Reed | |
| 2005-06 | 15-15 | 11-7 (MEAC) | Clifford Reed | |
| 2004-05 | 13-17 | 8-10 (MEAC) | Clifford Reed | |
| 2003-04 | 8-21 | 7-11 (MEAC) | Clifford Reed | |
| 2002-03 | 8-22 | 5-13 (MEAC) | Clifford Reed | |
| 2001-02 | 12-17 | 8-10 (MEAC) | Clifford Reed,Horace Broadnax | |
| 2000-01 | 10-19 | 5-13 (MEAC) | Horace Broadnax | |
| 1999-00 | 14-15 | 12-6 (MEAC) | Horace Broadnax | |
| 1998-99 | 11-16 | 10-9 (MEAC) | Horace Broadnax | |
| 1997-98 | 1-26 | 1-17 (MEAC) | Horace Broadnax | |
| 1996-97 | 12-16 | 9-9 (MEAC) | Tony Sheals | |
| 1995-96 | 12-15 | 8-8 (MEAC) | Tony Sheals | |
| 1994-95 | 12-16 | 9-7 (MEAC) | Tony Sheals | |
| 1993-94 | 9-18 | 8-8 (MEAC) | Tony Sheals | |
| 1992-93 | 3-24 | 2-14 (MEAC) | Cy McClairen | |
| 1991-92 | 4-25 | 3-13 (MEAC) | Cy McClairen | |
| 1990-91 | 5-24 | 3-13 (MEAC) | Cy McClairen | |
| 1989-90 | 10-18 | 8-8 (MEAC) | Cy McClairen | |
| 1988-89 | 12-16 | 8-8 (MEAC) | Cy McClairen | |
| 1987-88 | 6-21 | 4-12 (MEAC) | Cy McClairen | |
| 1986-87 | 10-19 | 6-8 (MEAC) | Cy McClairen | |
| 1985-86 | 7-22 | 4-10 (MEAC) | Cy McClairen | |
| 1984-85 | 8-19 | 4-7 (MEAC) | Cy McClairen | |
| 1983-84 | 6-22 | 2-8 (MEAC) | Cy McClairen | |
| 1982-83 | 5-21 | 3-9 (MEAC) | Cy McClairen | |
| 1981-82 | 10-18 | 4-8 (MEAC) | Cy McClairen | |
| 1980-81 | 13-15 | 4-6 (MEAC) | Cy McClairen |
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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 |
|---|