Army West Point Athletics
Wilkins Promoted to Associate Head Coach
August 13, 2021 | Men's Basketball
WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Lee Anderson Men's Head Basketball Coach Jimmy Allen announced the promotion of longtime assistant Ben Wilkins to Associate Head Coach on Friday morning. Wilkins, who is entering his sixth year at Army West Point, was one of Allen's first hires ahead of his inaugural season at the helm in 2016-17.
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"Ben has been as responsible for the success of our program and the culture we have as anyone," Allen said. "He is a terrific teacher of the game and a tremendous role model for our cadet-athletes. He has done a great job recruiting as well as being our defensive coordinator. I am very happy we are able to reward him with a promotion to Associate Head Coach. Ben is going to be an awesome head coach very soon."
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Since becoming a Black Knight, Wilkins has played an integral role in a staff that has compiled the most wins in their first four years at Army since Mike Krzyzewski. He has helped the men's basketball program compile winning records over service academy rivals, Navy and Air Force. During his time on the staff, the Black Knights have recorded a 6-4 mark against the Mids, giving the Class of 2020 the most wins versus Navy in program history. Army has also taken three of the four matchups opposite Air Force since Wilkins joined the program.
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"I am honored to work with exceptional student-athletes and incredible young men at such an elite institution," Wilkins said. "I take great pride in doing my part in the West Point mission of developing leaders of character. It is humbling for me to be recognized in such a way by Coach Allen and Mike Buddie. I appreciate the opportunity to further serve our student-athletes. My family and I are excited to remain a part of the West Point community. I am excited about the future of the Army West Point basketball program."
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In his role as defensive coordinator, Wilkins most recently over saw a defense in 2020-21 that held opponents to the lowest points per game (69.5) since the 2012-13 season (68.1). According to Kenpom.com, Army was first in the Patriot League in adjusted defensive efficiency during the 2018-19 season and finished second this past season. Additionally, he helped develop Josh Caldwell's prowess in the backcourt that landed him Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year honors. The first Army honoree since 2009, Caldwell led the conference with 41 steals en route to landing a spot on the All-Defensive Team.Â
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Wilkins' recent efforts have also been highlighted by the team's 25 Patriot League wins over the past three seasons, the most in program history. Army is one of three teams in the Patriot League to finish fifth-or-higher in each of the past three years, joined by Colgate and American, and has achieved back-to-back top-four finishes in the league standings. The 2020-21 team earned three quad one wins (Colgate, Buffalo and Navy) and additionally defeated La Salle for the first victory over an A10 program since 1978.
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Before coming to Army, Wilkins made stops at Mount St. Mary's, William & Mary and Barton College. He helped to recruit the winningest class in each respective school's history. The 2017 Mount St. Mary's graduating class was the first to go to two NCAA Tournaments and had the second-most victories in program history. The 2016 William & Mary class, as signed by Wilkins, graduated with the most wins in program history. Additionally, Wilkins' final recruiting class at Barton completed their careers with a 68-12 league record to go along with three regular season titles, as many tournament championships, an Elite Eight appearance (2006) and a national title (2007).
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Wilkins is a 2001 NC State graduate and served as an undergraduate manager with the Wolfpack. He and his wife Lisa have a daughter, Brooke and a son, Parker.
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"Ben has been as responsible for the success of our program and the culture we have as anyone," Allen said. "He is a terrific teacher of the game and a tremendous role model for our cadet-athletes. He has done a great job recruiting as well as being our defensive coordinator. I am very happy we are able to reward him with a promotion to Associate Head Coach. Ben is going to be an awesome head coach very soon."
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Since becoming a Black Knight, Wilkins has played an integral role in a staff that has compiled the most wins in their first four years at Army since Mike Krzyzewski. He has helped the men's basketball program compile winning records over service academy rivals, Navy and Air Force. During his time on the staff, the Black Knights have recorded a 6-4 mark against the Mids, giving the Class of 2020 the most wins versus Navy in program history. Army has also taken three of the four matchups opposite Air Force since Wilkins joined the program.
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"I am honored to work with exceptional student-athletes and incredible young men at such an elite institution," Wilkins said. "I take great pride in doing my part in the West Point mission of developing leaders of character. It is humbling for me to be recognized in such a way by Coach Allen and Mike Buddie. I appreciate the opportunity to further serve our student-athletes. My family and I are excited to remain a part of the West Point community. I am excited about the future of the Army West Point basketball program."
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In his role as defensive coordinator, Wilkins most recently over saw a defense in 2020-21 that held opponents to the lowest points per game (69.5) since the 2012-13 season (68.1). According to Kenpom.com, Army was first in the Patriot League in adjusted defensive efficiency during the 2018-19 season and finished second this past season. Additionally, he helped develop Josh Caldwell's prowess in the backcourt that landed him Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year honors. The first Army honoree since 2009, Caldwell led the conference with 41 steals en route to landing a spot on the All-Defensive Team.Â
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Wilkins' recent efforts have also been highlighted by the team's 25 Patriot League wins over the past three seasons, the most in program history. Army is one of three teams in the Patriot League to finish fifth-or-higher in each of the past three years, joined by Colgate and American, and has achieved back-to-back top-four finishes in the league standings. The 2020-21 team earned three quad one wins (Colgate, Buffalo and Navy) and additionally defeated La Salle for the first victory over an A10 program since 1978.
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Before coming to Army, Wilkins made stops at Mount St. Mary's, William & Mary and Barton College. He helped to recruit the winningest class in each respective school's history. The 2017 Mount St. Mary's graduating class was the first to go to two NCAA Tournaments and had the second-most victories in program history. The 2016 William & Mary class, as signed by Wilkins, graduated with the most wins in program history. Additionally, Wilkins' final recruiting class at Barton completed their careers with a 68-12 league record to go along with three regular season titles, as many tournament championships, an Elite Eight appearance (2006) and a national title (2007).
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Wilkins is a 2001 NC State graduate and served as an undergraduate manager with the Wolfpack. He and his wife Lisa have a daughter, Brooke and a son, Parker.
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