Rupp Awards
Commonwealth Athletic Club of Kentucky

Adolph Rupp
Awards

The definitive archive of college basketball's most storied honors — the Adolph F. Rupp Trophy (Player of the Year, 1972–2015) and the Adolph Rupp Cup (Coach of the Year, 2004–2015). A legacy of 44 champions.

1972–2015 · Player Trophy 2004–2015 · Coaches Cup NCAA Division I Lexington, Kentucky Verified Data
44
Trophy Seasons
1972 – 2015
3×
Max wins (Trophy)
Walton · Sampson
12
Cup Seasons
2004 – 2015
.822
Rupp's career
win percentage

The Baron of the Bluegrass

The man, the legacy, and the awards that bear his name.

Who Was Adolph Rupp?

Adolph Frederick Rupp (September 2, 1901 – December 10, 1977), born in Halstead, Kansas, became the most dominant force in college basketball coaching history. Nicknamed "The Baron of the Bluegrass," he led the University of Kentucky Wildcats from 1930 to 1972.

His career record stood at 876 wins – 190 losses (.822%), still the highest winning percentage in NCAA Division I history for coaches with 500+ victories. He captured 4 NCAA Championships (1948, 1949, 1951, 1958), 1 NIT title (1946), 27 SEC titles, and coached the 1948 US Olympic gold medal team. He was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969.

His Kentucky teams set the still-standing record for the longest NCAA Division I home-court winning streak at 129 consecutive games across 12 seasons. Rupp Arena in Lexington — a 23,500-seat venue — is named in his honor.

About the Awards

The Adolph F. Rupp Trophy was established in 1972 by the Commonwealth Athletic Club of Kentucky to honor the nation's most outstanding NCAA Division I men's basketball player. Modeled after football's Heisman Trophy, it was selected by an independent panel of national sportswriters and broadcasters and presented annually at the Final Four site.

The Adolph Rupp Cup, added in 2004, recognized the NCAA Division I head coach "who best exemplifies excellence in his dedication to the game of basketball and to his student athletes." Phil Martelli of Saint Joseph's was its inaugural recipient. John Calipari is the only coach to win it twice (2010, 2015).

Both awards were discontinued after the 2014–15 season, the year the Commonwealth Athletic Club ceased operations without issuing a public statement.

Records & Milestones

Notable achievements across both awards.

Most Trophy Wins (Player)
3×
Bill Walton (UCLA, '72–'74)
Ralph Sampson (Virginia, '81–'83)
Most Cup Wins (Coach)
2×
John Calipari (Kentucky)
2010 & 2015
First UK Trophy Winner
2010
John Wall — first University
of Kentucky player to win
Top Scoring Season (Trophy)
36.3 PPG
Hersey Hawkins, Bradley
1987–88 season
Best Cup Season W%
.974
John Calipari, Kentucky
38–1 in 2014–15
NBA MVPs Produced
15+
Trophy winners who earned
NBA Most Valuable Player

Timeline

1972 Trophy Inaugurated
1974 Walton's 3rd Trophy
1979 Larry Bird wins
1983 Sampson 3-peat
1984 Michael Jordan
1991 Shaquille O'Neal
1997 Tim Duncan
2004 Rupp Cup Launched
2006 Redick 2× Trophy
2007 Kevin Durant
2010 First UK Trophy (Wall)
2012 Anthony Davis
2015 Final Year — Both Awards

Winners Database

Search and filter the complete records for both awards.

Complete list of Adolph F. Rupp Trophy winners by year
Year ↕ Player ↕ School Pos. Notes
Complete list of Adolph Rupp Cup winners by season
Season ↕ Coach ↕ School W L W% Finish

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most common questions about the Adolph Rupp Awards.