FAIRFAX, Va. - George Mason University Assistant Vice President/Director of Athletics Marvin Lewis has announced a contract extension for men's basketball head coach Tony Skinn ('06) through the 2028-29 season.
 
"We are committed to Tony and excited about the success our men's basketball program accomplished on and off the court in his first season as our head coach," Lewis said. "Tony has displayed the ability to recruit top-tier talent – but more importantly, he has demonstrated he can effectively lead our program. We value his genuine commitment to our student-athletes and are confident that those personal qualities are essential to creating transformational experiences. Returning to George Mason has also provided Tony the unique opportunity to reconnect and engage with our passionate fans, devoted donors and vibrant campus partners. Mason Nation is energized to have Tony continue to guide and represent our proud men's basketball program."
 
In his inaugural head coaching campaign at his alma mater, Skinn led George Mason to 20 regular season wins for the first time since 2011-12 and a top-100 ranking for the first time since 2010-11. Those 20 wins ranked fifth-most nationally amongst first-time head coach-led programs and were tied for the second-most in school history by a first-year Mason head coach.
 
At the conclusion of the season, Skinn was named a finalist for the Joe B. Hall Award, presented annually to the top rookie, first-year men's basketball Division I head coach.
 
In addition to the on-court accolades, Skinn has showcased an innate ability to effectively construct a roster through his first 15 months as the Patriots' bench boss.
 
 In his first season, Skinn inherited just three scholarship players from the previous campaign and quickly built a 20-win team.  Heading into next season, his 2024-25 transfer class is ranked 57^th nationally, according to EvanMiya.com.
 
"I want to thank Dr. Washington and Marvin Lewis for their unwavering support as we continue to build this program," Skinn said. "George Mason holds a special place in my heart and has shaped so much of who I am today. This is my alma mater, and I have very high expectations for how our players and staff represent our university. We are establishing a standard of excellence that our fans and supporters can be proud of and we can't wait for November."
 
George Mason's 13-2 start matched the 1983-84 team for the best in program history and was the top start by a first-year Mason bench boss. The Patriots tallied 11 non-conference wins for just the second time in the past 40 campaigns, and the team's non-conference winning percentage (.846) was tops in the nation for a program led by a first-time head coach.
 
The Patriots earned four top-100 NET victories and defeated two teams which qualified for the NCAA Tournament (Dayton, South Dakota State). George Mason's win over #16 Dayton was its first ever over a ranked foe at home and also marked the highest-ranked win by a Patriot program in regular season history.
 
Skinn proved instrumental in the development of a number of key players on the Patriot roster in 2023-24. Keyshawn Hall put together a breakout season while earning First Team NABC All-District honors and freshman sensation Baraka Okojie earned a spot on the A-10 All-Rookie Team.
 
In addition, senior guard Darius Maddox (14.0 ppg vs. 8.5 ppg) and graduate forward Amari Kelly (12.2 ppg, 7.8 ppg) significantly increased their production in their first season playing for the Patriots.
 
Skinn returned to his alma mater in April to become the 12th head coach in program history. A two-time All-CAA selection with the Patriots from 2003-06, Skinn scored 1,079 career points while starting 68 games in his George Mason career. During the 2006 NCAA Tournament, he averaged 11.3 points and shot 35 percent from 3pt range while leading the Patriots to the national semifinals.  
 
A 2012 Olympian with the Nigerian National Team, Skinn enjoyed nearly a decade-long playing career overseas before embarking on a collegiate coaching career which included assistant coach stops at Louisiana Tech, Seton Hall, Ohio State and Maryland. During his time as an assistant, he helped guide three different programs to the NCAA Tournament, was a part of six 20+ win campaigns and established himself as a stout recruiter both within the talent-rich DMV and across the country.
 
ABOUT THE PATRIOTS
George Mason welcomes back two starters from last season's 20-win squad, including second-leading scorer Darius Maddox (14.0 ppg) and Jared Billups. GM also brings back three additional letter winners, including Woody Newton, Austin Ball and 2023 All-SoCon Third Team selection Jalen Haynes (ETSU). The Patriots finished in the top-100 nationally last season for the first time since 2010-11.
 
The Green & Gold will bring in five transfers for the 2024-25 campaign, including forward Giovanni Emejuru (Siena), guard Jeremiah Quigley (Iona), guard K.D. Johnson (Auburn), guard Brayden O'Connor (UMass Lowell) and forward Zach Anderson (FGCU). That group is ranked 57th nationally among transfer classes by EvanMiya.com. George Mason's three athlete freshman class includes guard Justin Begg (Houston, Texas) and forwards Bryson Cokley (Whiteville, N.C.) and Staš Sivka (Celje, Slovenia).