FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason University men's basketball head coach Tony Skinn ('06) has been named the A-10 Coach of the Year, the Atlantic 10 office announced Tuesday.
 
In addition, senior Jared Billups is the A-10 Defensive Player of the Year and a member of the All-Defensive Team.
 
Senior Jalen Haynes is an All-A-10 First Team selection, while senior Darius Maddox earned a spot on the All-A-10 Third Team.
 
Skinn Earns First George Mason Coach of the Year Honor Since 2011
Head coach Tony Skinn ('06) is George Mason's first conference Coach of the Year since Jim Larranaga earned the CAA honor in 2011.
 
This season, Skinn has led the Patriots to the best season in the program's A-10 history. The Green & Gold have set a new school record for Atlantic 10 league victories (15) and started league play 12-1 for the first time in the program's 59-year history. The Patriots have reached 24 overall victories for just the fourth time ever and eanred a double bye (and top-2 seed) in the A-10 Championship for the first time in school history.
 
George Mason's 17 home wins are a school record. The Patriots also swept their A-10 home schedule (9-0) for the first time ever and won five-straight A-10 road games for the first time in program annals. The team's 11-game win streak from Jan. 8-Feb. 18 was the second longest in the nation at the time and was just the fourth 10+ game winning streak in school history.
 
Skinn is the fastest George Mason coach to reach 40 wins and his A-10 winning percentage (.667) is tops in school history by a significant margin.
 
Billups is George Mason's First Defensive Player of the Year Since 2001
2024-25 Team Captain and defensive juggernaut Jared Billups is the Patriots' first conference defensive player of the year since George Evans garnered the accolade in 2001.
 
The bedrock of George Mason's #23 ranked defense, Billups is one of the best individual and team defenders in the nation. He ranks #33 nationally in individual defensive rating (DBPR), 25 spots higher than the next closest A-10 player. Opponents shoot just 28.9 percent when being guarded primarily by Billups and the team's overall defensive rating is +13.1 when he is on the floor (97^th percentile nationally). Opponents shoot 15.4 percent lower against George Mason with Billups in the game and the team's rebounding goes up +8.4% with him in the mix. Opponents also turn it over 3.3 percent more with Billups on the floor (top-94 percent nationally).
 
In addition, Billups is averaging career bests in steals/game (1.4) and his 4.4 deflections/game rank first on the Patriots. The team is +163 with Billups on the floor.
 
Haynes Just The Second GMU Player Named to All-A-10 First Team
Jalen Haynes joins the elite company of Josh Oduro (2022, 2023) as the only First Team All-A-10 selection in school history.
 
He has been a dominant force in the post and as a playmaker throughout the season. He ranks second in the A-10 and 34^th nationally in field goal percentage (.569) and his 14.0 points/game in league play rank first on the Patriots. He is fifth in the league in double-doubles (5), seventh in rebounds/game (7.2), seventh in free throw attempts (147) and 10^th in offensive rebounds/contest (2.00). He's notched 10+ points in 22 games and has scored 20 or more in five contests.
 
Haynes' +184 overall +/- this season is tops on the team. He's also averaging 1.2 assists/contest on the year.
 
Maddox Garners His First-Ever All-Conference Selection
Darius Maddox, a former ACC All-Tournament pick at Virginia Tech, has earned the first all-conference award of his career at George Mason.
 
The team's leader in scoring (13.6 ppg), Maddox has been the Patriots' most consistent performer throughout the season. He's notched 10+ points in a team-high 24 contests and 20+ point in five contests. He leads the team in 3pt FG made (54) and minutes/game (32.3) and is shooting 38.9 percent (35-90) from 3pt range in A-10 play. His 121 3pt FG made in just two seasons rank 17^th all time at George Mason, just four behind Tony Skinn (125, 2003-06).
 
ABOUT THE PATRIOTS
George Mason enters the A-10 Tournament as the No. 2 seed and will open play Friday (March 14) in quarterfinal action at Capital One Arena (5 p.m.). It's the Patriots' best ever A-10 Tournament seed after sharing the program's first regular season A-10 title in school history. GMU has set new A-10 records for conference wins (15), home wins (9) and road wins (5) while tallying 24 overall victories for just the fourth time in school history.