Steve Lappas

Stephan Thomas Lappas (born March 18, 1954) is an American former college basketball coach. He coached at Manhattan (1988–1992), Villanova (1992–2001) and UMass (2001–2005), compiling a 280–237 (.542) record over a 17-year coaching career. He is currently a basketball color commentator and studio analyst for CBS Sports.

Biography

Education Lappas graduated from Bronx High School of Science in 1972, where he was sixth man on its 1971 city championship team and a starter as a prep senior. He went on to the City College of New York, where he was a three-year letterwinner in basketball and served as the team's captain in his junior season. He graduated in 1977 with a bachelor's degree in primary education.

Coaching career In 1977, Lappas started coaching at York College, City University of New York as a volunteer, and moved to Fort Lee High School the next year, becoming an assistant. After one season, he assumed his first head coaching job with Harry S. Truman High School (in The Bronx), staying there through 1984. and was named New York Daily News Coach of the Year twice (1981 and 1984). Harry S. Truman High School won a New York State Class A championship under Lappas in the 1983–84 season, during which it was 27–3.

Head coach In 1988 Lappas became head coach at Manhattan College, where he guided the team to seven postseason tournament appearances (four NCAA, three NIT), posting an 8–6 record and winning the 1994 National Invitation Tournament.

Head coaching record

College

A-10 record includes a forfeit victory vs. St. Bonaventure, but season's overall win total does not include it.

The Lappie Awards

The Lappie Awards (often referred to simply as the Lappies) are annual college basketball honors presented by CBS Sports and analyst Steve Lappas. The awards recognize standout achievements in NCAA Division I men's basketball, including Coach of the Year, Team of the Year, and Player of the Year. The selections are traditionally announced during a featured late season CBS broadcast. Over time, the awards have become a recurring element of CBS's pre tournament college basketball coverage.

Award categories

Coach of the Year Team of the Year Player of the Year

Winners 2017

Coach of the Year: Mark Few (Gonzaga) Team of the Year: Villanova Player of the Year: Josh Hart (Villanova)

2018

Coach of the Year: Tony Bennett (Virginia) Team of the Year: Virginia Player of the Year: Jalen Brunson (Villanova)

2019

Coach of the Year: Rick Barnes (Tennessee) Team of the Year: Gonzaga Player of the Year: Zion Williamson (Duke)

2020

Awarded During: Xavier at Georgetown — March 1, 2020

2020 Awards

Coach of the Year: Anthony Grant (Dayton) Team of the Year: San Diego State Player of the Year: Obi Toppin (Dayton)

2021 Awarded During: Memphis at Houston — March 7, 2021

2021 Awards

Coach of the Year: Juwan Howard (Michigan) Team of the Year: Gonzaga Player of the Year: Luka Garza (Iowa)

2022

Coach of the Year: Ed Cooley (Providence) Team of the Year: Arizona Player of the Year: Johnny Davis (Wisconsin)

2023

Coach of the Year: Shaka Smart (Marquette) Team of the Year: Houston Player of the Year: Zach Edey (Purdue)

2024

2024 Awards

Coach of the Year: Dan Hurley (UConn) Team of the Year: UConn Player of the Year: Caitlin Clark (Iowa)

2025 Awarded During: Iowa State at Kansas State — March 8, 2025

2025 Awards

Coach of the Year: Pat Kelsey (Louisville) Team of the Year: Auburn Player of the Year: Cooper Flagg (Duke)

2026 Awarded During: Houston at Oklahoma State — March 7, 2026

2026 Awards

Coach of the Year: Tommy Lloyd (Arizona) Team of the Year: Miami (OH) Player of the Year: Cameron Boozer (Duke)