After leading the 2006 George Mason University Final Four team, playing professionally for six years overseas, and guiding three collegiate programs to the NCAA tournament as an assistant coach, current GMU men’s basketball head coach Tony Skinn has cemented himself as a standout figure in Division I basketball.
Under Skinn’s leadership, the future is looking bright for the Patriots: The team finished the 2024-2025 season with an overall record of 27-9, breaking a host of school records in the process. They made it to the first A10 Championship game in school history and had their first NIT win since 2004. And Skinn, who just signed a contract extension through 2030, took home the title of A10 Coach of the Year.
Now, the DC native talks about the Patriots’ historic season and what’s to come for the program, the Mason faithful, and collegiate basketball fans throughout Northern Virginia.
From the success of last season and the record-breaking season this year, you really changed the trajectory of the program with a short span of time. Are you still riding the high?
Yeah, I’m happy, but I wouldn’t say I’m riding the high. It’s my job to always be thinking ahead while everyone celebrates. I’ve got to figure out how to be as competitive next year as we we’re this year. Definitely fortunate, but the work doesn’t stop.
Tell me about some of the impact players and the strides they made this season.
KD Johnson is as competitive as anyone we’ve ever seen in a long time. His SEC experience is why we brought him here — he showed up and competed on both sides of the floor. Darius Maddox is a guy we knew we could always rely on, put up a lot of points at Virginia Tech, so that high-major experience definitely helped us, he was never fazed by anything. And Jared Billups, can’t say enough about him. He’s been a major part of this program the last two years, and we don’t have our defensive identity without him. He doesn’t jump out metrically, but coaches respect him enough from a defensive standpoint to vote him A10 Defensive Player of the Year, which is a big-time deal.
If you could share the emotions from the A10 Championship game and the two NIT games?
It was a tough game, I feel bad for the players, any other year you’re getting into the NCAA tournament, win or lose. It’s the first time an A10 team won 26 games, made it to the championship game, and did not get an at-large bid. That wasn’t even our best game — I think we played OK, but if we would’ve played a little better, it wouldn’t have come down to the last possession.
I’m really glad and proud of my guys, we showed up from the jump against Samford in the NIT and were able to get a game. It should’ve been the same against Bradley, but the reality is that was our fifth game in eight days and Bradley’s second game in two weeks, so that definitely was a factor.
If you have a personal favorite moment, whether that be on or off the court, what would it be?
We had a lot of moments. I’d say Richmond, we didn’t play well at all for about 38 minutes … us finding that effort to help finish the game and secure co-title, that was big time because the way the game was flowing, I didn’t think we were going to win. … Seeing the support from the fans was big, same for the A10 Championship game. … We’re one of the better mid-majors programs that’s supported from a fanbase standpoint.
You recently signed a contract extension through the 2029–2030 season. What should fans of Mason basketball and the rest of Northern Virginia be on the lookout for?
Really creating a culture of consistency, that’s what I’m taking pride in. Trying to enjoy the good moments but also staying competitive … George Mason has been really good in the past, maybe a season or two takes you off the trail a bit, but as long as I’m here I want to stay in the conversation as one of the best teams in the conference.
Your ties to Northern Virginia and Fairfax extend back to your playing days at Mason. What’s your favorite place to eat, whether with the team or on your own?
That’s kind of tough, being that we eat from the same place every day. I’ll say Ozzie’s.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Feature image of Tony Skinn by Mitchell Richtmyre
