The 2023-24 season will mark the 11th season for Dwaine Osborne at the helm of the University of Charleston men’s basketball program. In his first decade at UC, Osborne has returned the Golden Eagles to a place of prominence, leading the program to a 191-97 overall record. He has led Charleston to the MEC Championship game four times and been named MEC Coach of the Year three times. No coach has more MEC Championship game appearances or MEC Coach of the Year honors than Osborne.
Osborne has 27 years of past collegiate coaching experience with 18 coming as a head coach. Osborne, who was hired August 5, 2013, came to UC after four-year tenures at the University of Texas - Permian Basin and Glenville State College, respectively.
In year 10 under Osborne (2022-23), the Golden Eagles finished with a 19-10 overall record, including a 16-6 record in MEC play.
Under Osborne, UC has proven to be built on and around efficiency. For the fifth consecutive year, UC finished in the Top 7 in the country in NCAA II in field goal percentage offense (50.5%), which was also good for first place in the MEC. UC is the only team in the country in NCAA II to finish in the Top 7 for the last five consecutive years.
Further, the Golden Eagles continued that efficiency on not only offense but defense as they led the MEC in both field goal percentage offense and field goal percentage defense. UC is the only team to accomplish the feat in MEC history and this was the second time the program has done it, along with Osborne’s 2020-21 team.
Finally, during the 2022-23 season, Osborne moved into a tie for second all-time at UC in wins with 191. Osborne also has the second highest winning percentage (66.3%) in UC basketball history.
Individually, 5th senior Keith Williams was named to the all-conference first team while junior Tyler Eberhart was named to the second team. Also, senior Eddie Colbert was named honorable mention all-conference.
Year nine under Osborne (2021-22) saw the Golden Eagles finish with a 24-7 overall record, including a 17-5 record in MEC play. The team made its fourth MEC championship game appearance under Osborne in nine seasons, including its third in the last five seasons. UC defeated both Concord and Alderson Broaddus to reach the championship game, where they fell to West Liberty.
Charleston finished second in the country in NCAA II in field goal percentage offense (51.9%), which was also good for first place in the MEC. It was the fourth consecutive season in which they have both led the MEC and finished in the Top 10 nationally in offensive efficiency. Additionally, the Golden Eagles led the country in ATO’s (after time outs) in three categories: points per possession, percentage of time scored, and field
goal percentage. Additionally, Osborne moved into third place all-time at UC in wins with 172.
Individually, senior Keith Williams was named first team all-conference while 5th year senior Lamont McManus was named second team all-conference. Junior Eddie Colbert was also named honorable mention all-conference.
In year eight (2020-21), Osborne led UC during a shortened Covid-19 schedule to a 14-4 overall record, a 2-seed in the NCAA II National Tournament, and the program’s first Mountain East Conference regular season championship. The regular season title was the first for the program since the 2000-01 season. Further, the Golden Eagles finished the season ranked #15 in the country in the NABC II Coaches poll. The Golden Eagles also posted a 14-game win streak, matching the longest streak for the program in 21 years.
For his efforts, Osborne was named Mountain East Conference Coach of the Year for the third time. The recognition made it back-to-back Mountain East Conference Coach of the Year honors for Charleston’s head man.
Additionally, the 2020-21 team became the first team in Mountain East Conference history to lead the league in both field goal percentage offense and field goal percentage defense. Further, they finished 5th in the country in NCAA II in field goal percentage offense. In all of NCAA I and II combined, the Golden Eagles ranked 6th nationally in field goal percentage. It is the third consecutive season that Osborne has led UC to Top 10 nationally ranked finishes in field goal percentage offense.
Individually, four UC players were named to the MEC All-Conference team (only the second time in MEC history one team had four players on the all-conference teams). Senior Lamont McManus was named to the first team, while junior Isaiah Gable and sophomore Keith Williams were named second team. Senior Seth O’Neal was named honorable mention.
In year seven, the Golden Eagles finished with a 25-6 record, including going 17-5 in MEC play. The 25-6 record is an 80.6% winning percentage, the best season winning percentage at Charleston in 20 years. UC was the 3-seed in the 2020 NCAA II National Tournament. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the NCAA Tournament was canceled just before it began.
The team also made its third MEC Championship game appearance in seven seasons under Osborne. The Golden Eagles, who entered the MEC Tournament as a 2-seed, defeated WV Wesleyan in the quarterfinals and Fairmont State in the semifinals before falling to West Liberty in the championship game. UC reached the 20-win mark in the regular season for the second consecutive year, making it the first back-to-back 20-win regular seasons for the program in 16 years. Charleston led the MEC in field goal percentage (51.3%), which was also good for seventh in the country in NCAA II.
Furthermore, the Golden Eagles finished ninth nationally in all of NCAA I and NCAA II combined in field goal percentage.
Individually, seniors Drew Rackley and Devon Robinson were both named to the all-conference first team, respectively. Additionally, junior Lamont McManus was named to the second team.
In Osborne’s sixth season (2018-19), UC finished with an overall record of 20-9, including a 15-7 finish in the MEC. The program reached the 20-win mark during the regular season for only the second time in the last 17 years. In addition, the team not only led the MEC in field goal percentage (52.1%), but they also finished second in the country in NCAA II. Further, the Golden Eagles finished third nationally in all of NCAA I and NCAA II in the category behind only Bellarmine (NCAA II) and Gonzaga (NCAA I).
Individually, junior Drew Rackley was named as first team all-conference. Further, sophomore Lamont McManus and junior Devon Robinson were named to the second and honorable mention all-conference teams, respectively.
In Osborne’s fifth season (2017-18), UC completed the season at 18-13 and advanced to the MEC Championship game for the second time in five seasons. The Golden Eagles defeated Shepherd in the MEC Quarterfinals and then followed that up with an overtime victory over #8 nationally ranked West Liberty. UC would fall in the MEC championship game to Wheeling Jesuit. The Golden Eagles were near the very top in MEC defensive categories as they finished for the 5th consecutive year in the Top 2 in FG% defense.
Individually, senior Keir Anderson was named to the all-conference first team.
In Osborne’s fourth year (2016-17), UC finished with a 15-15 record and advanced to the MEC Quarterfinals at the Charleston Civic Center. The Golden Eagles were once again atop the MEC defensive scoring rankings, finishing third averaging 76.2 points per game, and for the fourth season in a row finished in the Top 2 in FG% on defense.
Individually, seniors Elliott Cole and Justin Coleman were named all-conference second team, respectively.
In Osborne’s third season (2015-16), the Golden Eagles won 16 games and continued to be an elite defensive team in the MEC. UC would finish in the Top 2 in scoring defense, field goal percentage defense, and rebounding margin.
Individually, seniors Aleksander Kesic and Jevonte Hughes were named to the second and all-conference teams, respectively.
In Osborne’s second season at the University of Charleston (2014-15), he led the Golden Eagles to 19 wins and earned a bye in the first round of the Mountain East Conference Tournament. Along the way, the Golden Eagles were led by a stingy defense that ranked
first in the conference in multiple categories. Those first place finish categories for the season included field goal percentage defense, 3-point percentage defense, and rebounding margin. They also finished second in scoring defense.
Individually, senior Chris Evans and junior Jevonte Hughes were named to the second and all-conference teams, respectively.
Osborne’s first season at the University of Charleston (2013-14) was a special one without question. The Golden Eagles finished the season 21-9 overall and advanced to the Atlantic Regional in the NCAA II National Tournament. The Golden Eagles also won the inaugural Mountain East Conference Tournament Championship by defeating #3 nationally ranked West Liberty, 63-60 in the title game.
Osborne also had UC in both the regional and national rankings. The Golden Eagles were #4 in the Atlantic Region rankings in each of the three weeks of the rankings, which began on February 19th and finished on March 5th. Additionally, Osborne had Charleston ranked #29 in the country in the final NABC/Division II national rankings, released on March 11th. For his efforts, Osborne was named Mountain East Conference Coach of the Year. With the 21 wins in his first season, Osborne posted the most victories by a first-year coach at the University of Charleston since Rich Meckfessel’s 27-win campaign in 1965. In addition, Osborne became the first University of Charleston head coach to lead Golden Eagles to a conference championship in his first season at UC since Rich Meckfessel’s 1965 team accomplished the feat.
Individually, senior Xavier Humphrey and sophomore Aleksander Kesic were named to the first and second all-conference teams, respectively. Fred Simpson was named MEC Tournament MVP. Senior Xavier Humphrey, who was named to the 2014 NABC Coaches’ All-District First Team, also was chosen to represent the Golden Eagles by being selected to participate in the 2014 Reese's® Division II College National All-Star game.
Before his arrival in Charleston, Osborne spent four seasons as head coach at the University of Texas – Permian Basin. Though UTPB only had one winning season in program history and no championships prior to his hiring, Osborne led UTPB to two winning seasons, two conference tournament appearances (2010-11 and 2011-12), and a regular season conference championship (2011). Osborne was also named by his peers as the 2010-11 Heartland Conference Coach of the Year.
In his first season at UTPB, not only did they lead the Heartland Conference, but the Falcons became the first team in any sport at UTPB to lead the country in a statistical category as they finished #1 in the nation in scoring defense. The Falcons allowed just 56.2 points per outing. During his tenure at UTPB they once had the Freshman of the Year (Madison Turner, 2012), twice had the Defensive Player of the Year (Erik Martin, 2011, 2012), once had the Player of the Year (Jamal Holden, 2011), and once had an All-
American (Jamal Holden, 2011). In addition, the Falcons had eight players make the post-season All-Conference Team.
Prior to becoming head coach at UTPB, Osborne took over the Glenville State College program at 29 years of age, becoming the second youngest NCAA II head coach in the country at the time of his hiring. In addition, he was one of the five youngest head coaches at any level in the NCAA. During his time at GSC, he led the Pioneers to a 20-9 record during the 2008-09 season giving the program its first 20-win season as a NCAA II member. The 20-win season was the first for the program in 16 years and only it’s second in the previous 36 years, dating back to 1973. The 20-win season also gave the Pioneers a 10.5 game improvement over the previous season, which was good for the fourth largest turnaround in the country at the NCAA II level. Finally, the Pioneers defeated four nationally ranked opponents under Osborne.
Prior to becoming the head coach at Glenville State, Osborne spent three seasons as an assistant at Glenville State. He also made stops as an assistant coach at St. Andrews Presbyterian College (NC), where he helped lead the team to its first ever Conference Tournament Championship in 1999-2000, as well as their first ever berth in the NCAA II tournament.
Osborne began his college coaching career as an assistant coach at Clearwater Christian College (FL). During his three years at Clearwater Christian, Osborne helped lead the team to three consecutive conference championships.
In all, Osborne has coached 38 players who have gone on to play basketball professionally. One of those players, Justin Rowe, played for the NBA’s Phoenix Suns during the 2004-05 season.
Osborne, 47, holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education from Clearwater Christian College in Clearwater, Florida. He also holds a Master's Degree in Communications, in which he earned a 4.0 GPA, from West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia.
He is married to his wife Amy and they have two children: Gavin (19) and Kylie (16).
