Since 1983, Brian Baptiste has directed one of the premier men’s basketball programs in the nation. He has led UMass Dartmouth to the NCAA Division III National Semifinals, two appearances in the Regional Semifinals with 14 total postseason berths. Baptiste boasts an overall record of 729-405. His 729 wins - the milestone 700th coming in a 68-57 victory at Castleton on January 14, 2023 - is the most among all active NCAA Division III coaches, and is the 13th most across all Divisions. He was honored at the Massachusetts State House on April 25, 2023 with a Citation for his impressive coaching career and was nominated for the honor by State Representative, Chris Markey.
The 2022-23 season saw Baptiste helm the Corsairs into the LEC postseason once again, recording seven conference victories as they finished sixth in the conference standings. UMass Dartmouth posted a 77-75 upset over Southern Maine in the opening round of the tournament, falling to Western Connecticut in the LEC Semifinals. At season's end, senior Dhalyn Sanders-Dyer was named to the All-LEC Second Team.
In 2021-22, Baptiste guided UMass Dartmouth to the LEC regular-season championship and a spot in the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. The Corsairs won their 14th Little East Conference regular season title and 12th tournament championship in 2020-21 with a 108-68 victory over Keene State.
In the 2016-17 season, Baptiste achieved a milestone few in the business can claim: 600 career wins, just the sixth active Division III head coach to achieve the mark. Across all three Divisions, Baptiste stands within the top-25 winningest active coaches as he sports a 626-331 record, all at the helm for the Corsairs.
UMass Dartmouth is the most successful men’s program in the Little East Conference since its inception in 1986-87. The Corsairs own a .652 winning percentage, 15 Little East Conference regular season titles, and 12 tournament championships.
Under Baptiste’s supervision, the men’s basketball program has registered 29 winning seasons. In 2007-08, UMass Dartmouth opened the season with a 20-game winning streak en route to a 25-4 overall record. Ranked as high as second in Division III, UMass Dartmouth captured the Little East Conference regular season championship and advanced to the second round of the Division III NCAA Tournament.
The finest season in the program’s history came in 1992-93, when the Corsairs advanced to the NCAA Division III Final Four. In four appearances in the finals of the NCAA Division III Northeast Regional, UMass Dartmouth captured two titles (1986, 1992).
Baptiste registered his most decorated year back in 2000-01, when he guided the program to a 25-3 record, which were the most wins among Division III teams for that particular year. He was named the Little East Conference Coach of the Year and the National Association of Basketball Coaches Northeast District Coach of the Year. UMass Dartmouth was crowned the regular season and tournament champions and advanced to the “Sweet 16” of the Division III NCAA tournament.
Earning recognition from his peers, Baptiste was formerly the chair of the Northeast Division III Men’s Basketball Selection Committee. Currently, he represents the Little East Conference as a National Association of Basketball Coaches Congressman and is a member of the NCAA Regional Advisory Committee.
A 1976 graduate of American International, Baptiste enjoyed an outstanding collegiate playing career following his graduation from New Bedford High School. He currently resides in New Bedford, Mass. and has four daughters: Jeana, Alaina, Erica and Rachael.
