AWARDS & HONORS
Liberty League Coach of the Year: 2005-06, 2008-09, 2018-19, 2022-23
Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association Coach of Year: 1997-98
National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) East Region Coach of the Year: 1997-98, 2008-09
New Balance - Basketball Coaches Association of New York (BCANY) Men's College Division Coach of the Year: 1997-98, 2008-09
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 1997-98, 2006-07, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2016-17, 2022-23
As the longest tenured Liberty League coach, Chris Downs will begin his 27th* season at the helm of the St. Lawrence University men’s basketball program in 2024-25. Downs, who is St. Lawrence’s all-time winningest coach has amassed nearly 400 career wins while on the sidelines for the Saints (391-290)*. He has led the team to the two highest single-season win totals in the school's history: 23 (2006-07) and 24 (1997-98), as well as guiding them to multiple NCAA Tournaments with appearances in the Elite 8 and Sweet 16. His 2023-24 team led all of Division III in field goal percentage defense, holding opponents to just 34.49 per cent. The Saints have made 19 post-season appearances in Downs’ time on campus.
Downs has also developed his players to be some of the strongest on both a regional and national level. He has coached 17 1,000-point scorers, nine All-East Region selections, two National All-Americans, six conference Rookies of the Year, including back-to-back Rookies of the Year, Luke Hicks '22 and Trent Adamson '23, three conference Players of the Year and 43Â all-conference players.
Downs has earned many accolades for his work with the men's basketball team; he has been named Conference Coach of the Year five times, was twice named the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) East Region Coach of the Year and twice named the New Balance - Basketball Coaches Association of New York (BCANY) Men's College Division Coach of the Year.
In addition to coaching, Downs is also a member of the NABC Division III All -America Committee who along with nine other coaches from around the country help decides the regional and national All-America selections, along with the National Player of the Year.
Downs is the 15th coach in the modern era of St. Lawrence basketball and was named the head coach at 27 years old, after working alongside Division I head coaches Dave Paulsen (Bucknell, George Mason, Holy Cross), and Scott Hicks (SUNY Albany, Loyola College). The Saints program currently has an all-time record of 1,172-908 dating back to 1922.Â
A 1992 graduate of Oneonta State, Downs earned his bachelor's degree in elementary education and was an All-SUNYACÂ basketball selection his senior year. He and his wife Tonki '96 reside in Canton and have two sons, Andy '24 and Christopher '26, and a daughter Winnie.
*Excluding the 2020-21 COVID shortened season
