Rickard Named BCANY Coach of the Year

MIDDLETOWN, NY - SUNY Orange men's basketball head coach Tom Rickard was named the 2025-26 Basketball Coach Association of New York (BCANY) JUCO Division II Coach of the Year. The BCANY is a service organization with membership open to any basketball coach at any level in New York State from high school, Division I, II-III and Junior College levels with the goal to provide services to fellow coaches, players and the game of basketball in general.

In his 13th season leading the Colts, Rickard led the Colts back to the NJCAA national tournament after winning their third straight Region XV Championship and their second straight East District A Championship, and had the Colts ranked as high as 11th in the country. Rickard earned his fifth straight Region XV Coach of the Year award following the region tournament.

The Colts took down Rockland in the Region XV Championship, 84-82, to complete the season sweep of their Region XV rivals. The Colts had previously beaten Rockland 94-80 on November 25 and 89-60 on February 12. In the East District A Championship, the Colts soundly defeated Mercer 102-83.

At the national tournament, Orange defeated Prince George's in the first round, 80-78, before falling to nationally top-ranked Palm Beach State in the Sweet Sixteen. In their third game, the Colts defeated 8th-ranked Mid-Michigan College, 103-91.

Following the season, a number of Rickard's players committed to move on to four-year schools.

Anthony Pacciarelli - NCAA Division I Manhattan University

Darren McFarlane - NCAA Division II Pace University

Keishawn Morris - NCAA Division II Lake Erie College

Giovani Rupert - NAIA LSU Alexandria

2025-26 BCANY Coaches of the Year