Duane Simpkins with Reflections on a Championship Season (EP375)
The Basketball Podcast
Chris Oliver
4.3 • 525 Ratings
🗓️ 4 June 2025
⏱️ 52 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this week's coaching conversation, American University head coach Duane Simpkins shares insights on reflecting on a championship season.
Simpkins has made a significant impact as the head coach of American, leading the program to new heights in the Patriot League. Over his tenure, he has compiled an impressive 38–29. In just his second year, Simpkins led the Eagles to a historic season, winning the 2024-25 Patriot League Championship and earning the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014. American finished 22-13 overall and 13-5 in the Patriot League, matching the program’s all-time record for league wins in a season.
Simpkins joined American after eight seasons on the coaching staff at George Mason, where he helped guide the Patriots to multiple program bests within the Atlantic 10, including an 11-win A-10 campaign and a 20-13 overall finish in 2022-23.
His coaching career also includes stints at UNC Greensboro, Towson, and on the high school level at St. Albans, Sidwell Friends, and Bishop O’Connell. In 2020, he was named one of the country’s Top 50 Most Impactful Mid-Major Assistants by Silverwaves Media and has been invited to numerous national leadership and coaching development programs.
A DMV basketball legend, Simpkins earned McDonald’s High School All-America honors at DeMatha Catholic under Hall of Fame coach Morgan Wootten. He was a three-time All-ACC Honorable Mention selection at the University of Maryland and helped lead the Terrapins to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including two Sweet 16 runs.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Awesome to welcome American University head coach Dwayne Simpkins to the basketball podcast. |
| 0:05.7 | Simpkins has made a significant impact as the head coach of American, leading the program to new heights in the Patriot League. |
| 0:11.9 | Over his tenure, he has compiled an impressive 38 and 29 record. |
| 0:15.9 | In just his second year, Simpkins led the Eagles to a historic season, winning the 2020-24-25 Patriot League |
| 0:22.2 | championship and earning the program's first NCAA tournament appearance since 2014. |
| 0:28.6 | American finished 22 and 13 overall and 13 and 5 in the Patriot League, matching the program's |
| 0:34.0 | all-time record for league wins in a season. Simpkins joined American after eight seasons on the coaching staff at George Mason, |
| 0:40.3 | where he helped guide the Patriots to multiple program bests within the Atlantic 10. |
| 0:45.3 | His coaching career also includes stints at UNC Greensboro, Townsend, and the high school level at St. Albans, |
| 0:52.3 | Sidwell, Friends, and Bishop O'Connor. DMV basketball legend, Simpkins earned McDonald's high school level at St. Albans, Sidwell, Friends, and Bishop O'Connell. |
| 0:58.7 | DMV basketball legends Simpkins earned McDonald's High School All-American honors at D'Amath Catholic Under Hall of Fame coach Morgan Wooten. He was a three-time-all-ACC |
| 1:03.7 | honorable mention selection at the University of Maryland and helped lead the Terrapins to three |
| 1:07.8 | NCAA tournaments, including two Sweet 16 runs. |
| 1:11.5 | Hey, coach, a brief interruption of our podcast. |
| 1:14.4 | You know the best player development is coaching development. |
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| 1:35.5 | Get your coaches full access to our extensive coaching video library, detailed courses, |
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