Things You Need To Know About The 2026 Hutch Field

(March 19, 2026 (Kansas City, MO) – The 2026 Men’s DI National Basketball Tournament is just a couple of day away from tip-off. The event, matched only by the rest of the Juco basketball world, is still unique as it brings all competing teams to one venue in one city for one week. The NAIA championships still do it the same way each year at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, MO, although the format has changed a little in recent years. They used to bring the entire 32 team field to KC. But I can’t find any other situation these days where 24 teams convene on one court to crown a Champion!

If you’re new to Juco ball, THE TOURNAMENT, as dubbed by the Hutchinson locals many years ago, runs Saturday, March 20 through Saturday, March 28 this year. Twenty-four teams battle over 7 days in which the lone survivor becomes the National Champion. Of the 24 teams, 16 are automatic qualifiers via District Championships, and eight more are gifted At-Large berths from their season’s overall quality of work. NJCAA by-laws used to restrict any District from having more than 3 teams participating.

Not anymore!! That has changed for 2025-26 edition as two Districts, the Southwest (Region 5) and the South Atlantic (Region 8) have placed four teams in this year’s tournament.

YES…MORE HISTORY UNVEILED in this, the 79th running of THE SHOW, the 78th time from Hutchinson, KS.

The very first Championship was held in Springfield, MO, in 1948, and moved to Hutch the following season. Below you’ll see summaries about each team represented and the short bios of their Head Coaches.

Gentlemen….it’s almost time to START YOUR ENGINES!! “May the odds be ever in your favor!”

AUTOMATIC QUALIFIERS

Bishop State CC (17-15) – Mobile, AL – South District Champions – Region 22 – The Wildcats – No. 22 Seed – Not Ranked – Beat (RV) Shelton State CC 71-68 in District Championship – First ever trip to nationals – District runner-up last season – Will play first round versus #11 seed Northwest Florida State Sunday, March 22 at 8:00 – 2 game win streak

Head Coach/AD: Trenton Eager (BA-Jacksonville State University; MA-University of West Alabama) – Started college coaching career at Alabama Southern CC in 2012 – became Women’s HC at Bishop State in 2014 for five seasons before taking over the men in 2019 – 7 seasons at BSCC (82-88) – 14th season overall () – Hometown: Monroeville, AL?

Assistant Coaches: Marcus Harden, Kirven Lang, Jr., Vincent Driscoll

Brunswick CC (28-5) – Supply, NC – Atlantic District Champions – Region 10 – The Dolphins – No. 19 Seed – Region 10 – Ranked #20 – Beat Gaston College 90-76 in District Championship – 4th appearance at Hutch – Last time 2025 – Third trip in five years – will play #14 seed Gulf Coast State in first round on Saturday, March 21 at 8:00 pm – 15-0 at home – have a 5 game win streak going

Head Coach: Walter Shaw (BA-UNC-Wilmington; MA-UNC-Pembroke) – Was 23 when hired as BCC Head Coach – 26th year at Brunswick (496-281) 30th overall – Winningest Active Coach in Region 10 – Hometown: Riegelwood, NC

Assistant Coaches: Ken “Tiger” Aldrich, John Galloway, Randy Pulley

Butler CC (24-9) – El Dorado, KS – Plains District Champions – Region 6 – The Grizzlies – No. 8 Seed – Region 6 – Ranked 19th – Beat Barton CC 102-96 in OT in District Championship – 8th time to to make the field at Hutch – Last appearance 2023 – Two times National Runners-up (1992 & 1993) – received a first round bye – will play Tuesday, March 24 at Noon vs winner of #9 Snow College/#24 Trinidad State – won 5 games in a row

Head Coach: Eric Nitsche (pronounced NITCH-ee) (AA-Kansas City Kansas CC; BA-St. Mary University) – 2nd year at Butler (22-11) – 2nd year overall as HC – was AC at Hutch for 3 years prior, and spent 7 seasons as top AC at Cowley before that, both with former HC Tommy DeSalme – Also had AC stint at KCKCC – Spent his entire 16 year coaching career in the KJCCC (The Jayhawk) – Also a Juco Product (KCKCC) – Hometown: Mission, KS

Assistant Coaches: Ivan Leal, Mikel Henderson

Chipola College (26-7) – Marianna, FL – South Atlantic District Champions – Region 8 (Panhandle) – The Indians – No. 5 Seed – Ranked #7 – Beat Daytona State College 76-69 in District Championship game – Trip #20 to Hutch – Sixth consecutive year – Won 6 straight Panhandle Conference Titles – NJCAA Final Four in 2021 & 2022 – National Runners-Up in 1974 & 2007 – received a first round bye – will play first game on Tuesday, March 24 at 5:30 against the winner of #12 South Plains/#21 Northern Oklahoma-Enid – have won three consecutive games

Head Coach: Donnie Tyndall (BA-Morehead State; MA-LSU) 6th season leading Chipola (135-28) – 30-5 at St. Catherine College (1996-97) with an appearance at Hutch – 7 years coaching at Juco level, 7 time participant at Hutch – 29 years coaching overall – Hometown; Grand Rapids, MI

Assistant Coaches: Trent Short, Phillip Pattison

Howard College (29-4) – Big Spring, TX – Southwest District Champions – Region 5 (WJCAC) – The Hawks – No. 1 Seed – Ranked #4 – Beat #9 Midland College 82-72 in District Final – 9th appearance at Hutch – Last time in 2013 – National Champs in 2010 – received first round bye – will play winner of #16 Jones College/#17 Daytona State on Monday, March 23 at Noon – winners of 4 in a row

Head Coach: Kyle Cooper (AA-NIACC; BA & MA-Waldorf Univ.) – 3rd season at Howard (37-23) – 6th season overall (89-67)? with stints at Western Texas College and Little Priest Tribal College – A Juco Product (NIACC) – Hometown: West Plains, MO

Assitstant Coaches: Tyrone Brazelton, Jared Champion

Indian Hills CC (30-2) – Ottumwa, IA – North Central District Champions – Region 11 Champion – The Warriors – No. 3 Seed – Ranked #2 – Beat Dawson CC (MT) the Region 13 Champion, 80-75, in District Championship – 21st appearance in Hutch – 5th straight trip – 13th time in fifteen years – Three time National Champs (1997, 1998, 1999) – Only team in NJCAA with a three-peat – Runners-Up in 2014 – received a first round bye – will play winner of #14 Seed Gulf Coast/#19 Seed Brunswick CC on Monday, March 23 at 8:00 – currently on an 18 game win streak – 20-0 at home in the rabble-rouser, Hell-Raisin Hellyer Center

Head Coach: Cole Dewey (BA & MA-Campbell Univ.) – 2nd season at the Hills (27-6) – 5th overall (81-36) – HC at Otero College 2 seasons & 1 at Garden City CC – AC coach at Indian Hills 2015-2018 – 14th season coaching overall – Last loss to Tournament Qualifier RV Mineral Area College before Christmas – Hometown: Willow Springs, NC

Assistant Coaches: Trey Rakes, Zeke Buyaba

Jones College (24-9) – Ellisville, MS – Gulf District Champions – Region 23 – The Bobcats – No. 16 Seed – Not Ranked – Beat #1 Seed Itawamba CC 102-96 in OT in District Final – 5th time at Hutch – third consecutive year – 2014 National Champions – will open the tournament on Saturday, March 21 at Noon vs #17 seed Daytona State – won three in a row

Head Coach: Newton Mealer (BA-Southern Miss; MA-Christian Brothers) – 5th year at Jones (91-30) – 23rd year of coaching – Hometown: Memphis, TN

Assistant Coaches: Tim Walsh, Sam Wiseman, Jonathan Lucas

Mineral Area College (21-11) – Park Hills, MO – Midwest District Champions – Region 16 Champs – The Cardinals – No. 20 Seed – RV in poll – Beat Region 4 Champ at Malcolm X College, 83-58, in District Title Game – 5th overall appearance at Hutch – Last time 2021 – Will take on #13 seed Monroe University on Saturday, March 21 at 5:30 – won 3 in a row – 14-0 at home

Head Coach: Tony Irons (BA-College of the Ozarks; MA-Lindenwood Univ.) – 2nd season at MAC (18-12) – Celebrated HS coach in Missouri – Coached powerhouse Vashon HS nine years and won 7 State Titles (216-38) – also coached at Madison Prep, Imagine Prep and College of the Ozarks, where he won an NAIA National Championship – Tony also won a Missouri State Championship at Lutheran North HS in 2002 – son of Legendary and MBCA Hall of Fame Coach Floyd Irons, who also led the Vashon Wolverines (30+ seasons, 800+ wins, and 10 State Titles) – the Irons pedigree is deep – Hometown: St. Louis, MO

Assistant Coaches: Sean Kostecki, D’Aron Owens

Monroe University (27-4) – New Rochelle, NY – formerly Monroe College – East District Champions – only D1 team in Region 15 – The Mustangs – No. 13 Seed – Ranked #16 – Beat Harcum College (Region 19) in District Championship game 97-52 – 11th appearance at the Sports Arena (all since 2003) – Making back to back trips – Third time in four seasons – 4th appearance in last 7 years – will play #20 Mineral Area College at 5:30 on Saturday, March 21 – 20 consecutive victories – all four losses to Region 8 (South Atlantic District) teams – this is the last year the Mustangs will participate in the NJCAA as they are moving to the CACC in NCAA DII

Head Coach: Jeff Brustad (pronounced BREW-stad) – (BA-State University of New York (SUNY) at Oneota; MA-Lehman College) – 23rd year at Monroe (577-158) – His 577 wins ranks him 63rd all-time career active/inactive coaches in the NJCAA prior to the start of this season

Assistant Coaches: Patrick Dame, Jobse Reyes, Ernie D’Angelo

Northern Oklahoma College – Enid (20-13) – Enid, OK – South Central District Champions – Region 2 – The Jets – No. 21 Seed – Not Ranked – Beat Western Oklahoma State College 68-59 in District Championship – Second time making it to Hutch – Last appearance 2017 – will play #12 South Plains College on Sunday, March 22 at 5:30 – winners of 3 in a row –

Head Coach: Chris Gerber (BA-Univ. of Kansas; MA-Southwest Oklahoma State) – 9th year at NOC-Enid, 6th as HC (79-68) – served 3 season at NOC-E prior – Hometown: Conway Springs, KS

Assistant Coaches: Chance Blackdeer, Kaleb Ylitalo

South Georgia State College (23-10) – Waycross, GA – Southeast District Champions – Region 17 – The Hawks – No. 23 Seed – Not Ranked – Beat RV #1 Seed at Central Georgia Tech in District Championship game, 75-74 – 6th overall appearance at Hutch – Back to back trips – Fourth appearance in last six years – plays #10 seed Walters State CC Sunday, March 22 at 2:30 – on an 11 game win streak

Head Coach: Cory Baldwin (BA-Clayton State; MA-Central Michigan) – 17th year at helm of SGSC (352-151) – Hometown: Jonesboro, GA

Assistant Coaches: Kevin Williams

College of Southern Idaho (31-2) – Twin Falls, ID – West District Champions – Region 18 Champs – The Golden Eagles – No. 2 Seed – Ranked #3 – Beat Region 1 Champ at Cochise College 102-96 in OT – This is their 29th overall trip to Hutch – Last Trip 2023 – received first round bye – will open with winner of #15 Barton CC/#18 New Mexico JC on Monday, March 23 at 2:30 – 9 game winning streak

Head Coach: Jeff Reinert (pronounced RIE-nert) – (BA-Gonzaga) – 7th season at CSI (135-49) – 8 years at Utah Valley State College (179-77) – 15th overall in Juco (314-126) – 39 years coaching at all levels

Assistant Coaches: Dawson Henshaw, Robert Rodriguez

Trinidad State College (17-16) – Trinidad, CO – Northwest Plains District Champions – Region 9 – The Trojans – No. 24 Seed – Not Ranked – Beat Lamar CC 101-91 in District Championship – 7th appearance at Hutch – 5th consecutive trip – back to back to back to back to back District Champs – will play #9 Seed Snow College on Sunday March 22 at Noon – winners of 4 straight

Head Coach: Mike Folda (AA-Northeastern JC; BA-CSU-Pueblo; MA-East Central University OK) – 15th year at Trinidad (237-196) – was AC for the Trojans for five seasons prior – a Juco product as a player at NJC – Hometown: Pueblo, CO

Assistant Coach: Brandon Rielly

Trinity Valley CC (28-5) – Athens, TX – Mid-South District Champions – Region 14 – The Cardinals – No. 4 Seed – Ranked 5th – Beat Lee College 85-67 at Lee for District Title – 13 visit to the Sports Arena – 4th consecutive trip – 5th in last 6 seasons – 10th time in past 13 years – received first round bye – will play winner of #13 Monroe/#20 Mineral Area on Monday, March 23 at 5:30 – 3 game win streak – 15-1 home record

Head Coach: Greg Heiar (pronounced Hire) (BA-Mount St. Clare) – 2nd season at TVCC (34-3) – won 2025 National Championship – had HC stints at Chipola 5 years (165-15), Runner-up 2007; Northwest Florida State 1 year (31-5) winning the National Championship, and Mineral Area College one season (29-3) – 9 total Juco seasons (259-26) – Heiar also served as head coach at New Mexico State University for one season – held AC positions at: Mount St. Clare, Loras College, Chipola, Southern Mississippi, Wichita State University, LSU and East Tennessee State University – a Juco product playing at Kirkwood CC before finishing at Mount St. Clare – 25 years in coaching overall

Assistant Coaches: Guy Furr, David Gale, Tre Ivory

Vincennes University (31-2) – Vincennes, IN – Central District Champions – Region 24 – The Trailblazers (Blazers) – No. 6 Seed – Ranked #10 – Beat John A. Logan College 71-70 in District Championship game – all time record 40th Hutch appearance – 4 straight trips – historic 13th time in 14 years – 4 time Champs (1965, 1970, 1972, and 2019) – Runners-up in 1986 – received first round bye – will play winner of #11 Seed Northwest Florida State/#22 Bishop State CC on Tuesday, March 24 at 8:00 – most wins vs D1 Jucos this season (31) – on a 6 game win streak – 44 year veteran “voice of the Blazers” David Hunter had earlier announced his retirement after this season – we…I…will miss you Dave – a tip of the cap to you for a job well done!!

NJCAA…what’s the deal? You put coaches into the Basketball Hall of Fame while they are still active, you missed the boat on this one!!

Head Coach: Todd Franklin (BA-Western Kentucky; MA-Austin Peay) – 16th year at VU (417-86) – 29 years overall (747-184) – Ranked 20th all-time active/inactive coaching records thru 2024-25 – Class of 2018 NJCAA BCA Hall of Fame Inductee

Assistant Coaches: Brian Davis, JJ Kingsley

Walters State CC (30-1) – Appalachian District Champions – Region 7 – The Senators – No. 10 Seed – 13th Ranked – Beat Columbia State CC 68-65 in District Championship game – 10th trip to the Salt City – Most recent appearance in 2024 – will play #23 seed South Georgia State at 2:30 on Sunday, March 22 – won 14 in succession

Head Coach: Jerry Nichols (BA-Arkansas State, MA-Union College) – in third season at WSCC (79-13) – 12th year overall with terms at Motlow State & Southwest Tennessee CC (278-72) – Juco product all-american at WSCC – two time player of the year in TCCAA – two time player at Hutch making all-tournament team both times – Hometown: Memphis, TN

Assistant Coach: Arcuas McGhee

AT-LARGE SELECTIONS:

Barton CC (24-9) – Great Bend, KS – Plains District At-Large – Region 6 – The Cougars – No. 15 Seed – Ranked #17 – Lost to Butler CC 111-103 in District Championship game – 7th trip to Nationals – back to back to back appearances – National Champions in 2024 – Runner-up in 1999 – will take on #18 Seed New Mexico JC in first round Saturday, March 21 at 2:30 – 1 game losing streak

Head Coach: Jeremy Coombs (prounced kōmz) – (Lebette College, Nicholls State, Kansas Wesleyan University) – 5th season at Barton (68-28) – overall 19 years (331-236) – 14 seasons at Neosho Co. CC (228-203) – Hometown: Topeka, KS

Assistant Coaches: Tyson Downing, Justin Fairman

Daytona State College (26-7) – Daytona, FL – South Atlantic District At-Large – Region 8 (Citrus) – The Falcons – No. 17 Seed – 24th ranked team – Lost to Chipola College in District Final, 76-69 – Fifth trip to the Sports Arena – third appearance in a row – will play #16 Seed Jones College in first round to open the tournament on Saturday at Noon – on a one game losing streak –

Head Coach: Joseph “Joey” Cantens (BA-Eckerd College, MA-Florida State) – fifth year at DSC (94-33) – Hometown: Miami, FL

Assistant Coaches: Adrian Davila, Rod Thomas

Gulf Coast State College (25-7) – Panama City, FL – South Atlantic District At-Large – Region 8 (Panhandle) – The Commodores – No. 14 Seed – Ranked #12 – Lost to Daytona State in District Semifinal 79-67 – 4th time to earn an appearance at Hutch – Last time to qualify was in 2020 – will play first round on Saturday, March 21 against #19 Seed Brunswick CC at 8:00 – looking to start a new winning streak –

Head Coach: Lane Below (pronounced Blue) – (BA & MA-Ole Miss) – 2nd season with GCSC (23-10) – Assistant at Chipola for 2 years – Juco product playing two years at Three Rivers College (under Gene Bess) – Hometown: Advance, MO

Assistant Coaches: Logan Wallace, Mekhi McCray, Parker Martens, Jack Kepreos

Midland College (27-6) – Midland, TX – Southwest District At-Large – Region 5 (WJCAC) – The Chaparrals “Chaps” – No. 7 Seed – Ranked #9 – Lost to #1 Seed Howard College in District Championship game 82-72 – Twelfth overall appearance at Hutch – Last appearance 2023 – Two time National Champs (1982 & 2007) – Three time runners-up – first round bye – will play #10 Walters State/#23 South Georgia State winner at 2:30 on Tuesday, March 24 – one game losing streak

Head Coach: Isaac Fontenot-Amedee (pronounced FAHN-tuh-noh AH-muh-dee) – (BA-Nicholls State) – 1st year at Midland – 6th season as Juco HC, 5 years at Clarendon College (92-62) – Also 2 year AC stints at each Hill College (TX) & Dodge City CC (KS) – Hometown: Baton Rouge, LA

Assistant Coach: CJ Williams

New Mexico JC (26-6) – Hobbs, NM – Southwest District At-Large – Region 5 (WJCAC) – The Thunderbirds (T-birds) – No. 18 Seed – Ranked #15 – Lost to #1 Howard College 73-68 in OT in District Semifinals – 5th time trekking it to Hutch – Last visit was in 2014 – will play #15 Seed Barton CC in first round Saturday, March 21 at 2:30 – losing streak at 1 game

Head Coach: Luke Mackay (pronounced Muh-kay) – (AA-Lon Morris College, BA-East Carolina Univ., MA-Univresity of Oklahoma) – is in fourth season at NMJC (59-34) – 5 season as HC at Juco level (73-49) – spent one year at helm of Neosho Co. CC – 15 total years coaching at various levels including the NBA – Hometown: Perth, Australia

Assistant Coach: Jordan Burton

Northwest Florida State College (25-7) – Niceville, FL – South Atlantic District At-Large – Region 8 (Panhandle) – The Raiders – No. 11 Seed – Ranked 8th – Lost to Chipola 66-63 in District Semifinals – Fifteenth showing in Hutch – 4 years of last five – 12th trip in last 17 years – 3 times champions (1995, 2015, & 2022) – Runners-up three times (2012, 2013, and 2023) – will play first round game against Bishop State CC on Sunday, March 22 at 8:00 – loser of one in a row

Head Coach: Steve DeMeo (pronounced Dah-may-oh) – (BA-State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo) – entering 10th year at NWFS in two stints (2013-2019) & (2023-current) (247-50) – 15th season overall as HC in Juco, Bronx CC – 2 yrs & Monroe College (Univ) 3 yrs (343-120) -Won Natty with Raiders in 2015 and runner-up in 2023 – Hometown: Bayside, NY

Assistant Coaches: Tyson Kelderman, Sagar Kapoor, Montre Cash

Snow College (28-4) – Ephraim, UT – West District At-Large – Region 18 – The Badgers – No. 9 Seed – Ranked #1 – Lost to College of Southern Idaho in Region 18 Final – Spent all season in Top 10 of NJCAA poll, and five weeks at #1 – 5th trip to Nationals – back to back appearances – Runners-up in 1954 – will play first round game on Sunday, March 22 versus #24 Seed Trinidad State College at Noon – Hoping to start new win streak

Head Coach: Andrew May (BA & MA from Brigham Young University) – in fourth season with the Badgers (73-20) – was AC with Dixie State University for 11 seasons & BYU – AC at Salt Lake CC 2004-06 – Hometown: Mt. Pleasant, UT

Assistant Coaches: Josh Perkins, Ethan Kahn

South Plains College (24-7) – Levelland, TX – Southwest District At-Large – Region 5 (WJCAC) – The Texans – No. 12 Seed – Ranked #14 – Lost to Midland College in District Semifinals 74-70 – Hutch appearance #16 for the Texans – tenth time in last thirteen years – Three in a row – will play #21 Seed Northern Oklahoma College – Enid in first round at 5:30 Sunday, March 22 – Three time National Champs 2008, 2012, and 2018 (all under HOF Coach Steve Green) – 2015 Runners-up – looking to fire up a new win streak

Head Coach: Patrick “Cinco” Boone (BA-Eastern New Mexico; GD-Hardin-Simmons Univeristy) – First season at South Plains – was HC at Angelo State (129-67) – served as AC for UT-Arlington, McMurry University, Stephen F. Austin – HC at NJCAA Jacksonville College – Hometown: Elida, NM

Assistant Coaches: Glen Mayo, Dwight Smith, Brandon Jackson, Ethan Martinez

The content for this publication is provided through outside sources (i.e. – team/shcool webpages, search engine findings, personal knowledge, the NJCAA and it’s webpage and social media accounts, National Tournament Souvenir Programs, etc.) which may or may not be 100% accurate. Juco Hoop Scoop makes every attempt to verify the information, and keeps records from previous years and moves them forward to the current situation.

Occasionally, the info is incorrect and if you find any content which is in need of update or correction, do not hesitate to contact me. Contact info is available on this website or on my X (twitter) account. This publication is designed merely to provide basic info and conversation pieces about the upcoming event and in no way is written to over or under promote any team, coach, and school with special favor. Please enjoy (and comment).