🏆: Cal State East Bay’s Bryan Rooney is the recipient of the 2026 Clarence “Big House” Gaines National Coach of the Year Award, presented annually to the top head coach in Division II college basketball. After finishing 11-17 a season ago, Rooney led Cal State East Bay to a 33-1 record and a berth in the Elite Eight of the Division II NCAA Tournament. “What a remarkable turnaround in Hayward, California,” said Joe Dwyer, President of CollegeInsider.com and a member of the Clarence Gaines Award voting panel. “Coach Rooney and the Pioneers rewrote the record books this season after being an afterthought heading into the year. He did one of the best coaching jobs at any level of college basketball this season.” Now that’s BOLD. #bEBold | #ncaadii | #basketball | #coachoftheyear