In 24 seasons as head coach at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Brian Baptiste has seen his teams earn a reputation as being among the best NCAA Division III teams in the nation.
His career record of 452-207 speaks for itself. He also serves as an Assistant Director of Athletics at UMD.
Baptiste’s teams have qualified for post-season play on 15 occasions, including 11 appearances in the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Corsairs have won 12 Little East Conference regular season championships and 10 post-season playoff titles in the 18-year history of the conference.
Baptiste’s teams have posted winning records 20 times, and were just a game under .500 on three other occasions. During the 2000-2001 season, his team went 25-3 and led all NCAA Division III teams in wins. Baptiste was named the Little East Coach of the Year, and the National Association of Basketball Coaches Chevrolet Northeast District Coach of the Year. UMass Dartmouth won both the LEC regular season and tournament titles, qualified for the NCAA Division III Tournament, and advanced to the Sweet 16.
The following season, the Corsairs went 21-8. They went on to win the ECAC Tournament championship.
UMass Dartmouth has advanced to the NCAA Division III Northeast Region championship game four times, winning the regional title in both 1986 and again in 1992. Ten years ago, UMD had its finest season, advancing to the NCAA Division III Final Four. The Corsairs ranked as one of the top 10 Division III teams in the nation between the 1985-86 season and the 1987-88 campaign. UMass Dartmouth was top-ranked during the 1987-88 regular season.
A 1976 graduate of American International, Baptiste enjoyed an outstanding playing career following his graduation from New Bedford High School.
In addition to being promoted to the Assistant A.D. position, Baptiste has earned recognition from his peers. Formerly the chair of the Northeast Division III Men’s Basketball Selection Committee, he represents the LEC as an National Association of Basketball Coaches Congressman, and is a member of the NABC’s Marketing and Promotion Committee.
Married to the former Kathryn Russo, Baptiste resides in Dartmouth, MA. He has four daughters: Jeana, age 24, Alaina (23), Erica (18) and Rachael (15).
