April 3, 2025
TEXAS A&M’S HENRY COLEMAN III RECIPIENT OF NOLAN RICHARDSON AWARD
The player who is the heart and soul of a winning team.
SAN ANTONIO, TX -- Texas A&M’s Henry Coleman III is the recipient of the 2025 Nolan Richardson award. The award is presented annually to a division I player who is the heart and soul of his team and a leader on and off the court.
One of the most impactful men's basketball players in school history, Coleman played an enormous role in the growth of the Texas A&M basketball program, both on the court and off.
He owns the Texas A&M record with 351 career offensive rebounds, and he is the only player in school history to post more than 1,200 points, 750 rebounds and 130 steals. Coleman's impact was a key to the Aggies' four-straight 20-win seasons and four postseason trips, which included three invitations to the 'Big Dance.'
“Those close to the program will tell you that the leadership of Henry Coleman III was a major part of the team’s success,” said Joe Dwyer, President of CollegeInsider.com. “His work ethic, and ‘lead by example’ approach is contagious. He’s an impressive young man with a very bright future. Henry Coleman III embodies the essence of the Nolan Richardson award.”
Off the court, "Big Hen" has served multiple terms as the Chair of the SEC's Basketball Leadership Council and has participated in the SEC Spring Meetings three times. He was named to the SEC Community Service Team in 2023 and he also served in a leadership role for the student-athlete-led initiative – F.A.C.E. Mental Health. The mission of F.A.C.E. (Fostering Athletes' Continued Excellence) Mental Health is to generate awareness, develop a sense of community, provide education, and advocate for the variety of mental health concerns and challenges student-athletes experience.
During his four seasons, the Aggies averaged 24 wins per season and made three straight trips to the NCAA Tournament. The 2021-22 Aggies posted the second most wins (27) in school history and advanced to the NIT Championship game.
The Nolan Richardson award is named in honor of one of the true legends of the game. His frenetic style of fast-break basketball, with full-court pressure, helped him become the only coach to win NJCCA, NIT and NCAA National Championships. After winning a junior college national championship at Western Texas College, Richardson went on to lead Tulsa to the NIT Championship in his first season at the helm. He averaged 24 wins per season in his five years at Tulsa, leading the Golden Hurricanes to three NCAA Tournament appearances.
In 17 seasons at Arkansas, Richardson led the Razorbacks to 9 conference championships, 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, three Final Fours and the 1994 NCAA Championship. His famed “40 Minutes of Hell” produced over 500 career wins.
Nolan Richardson was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame and 2008 and he was enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014.