Dwayne Killings, the head coach of the University at Albany’s men’s basketball program, is charting a clear path back to the NCAA Tournament after a disappointing 2025‑26 campaign that ended with an 11‑21 record.
A Strategic Overhaul
The Great Danes’ roster will look markedly different next season, with eleven players having departed and an equally large influx of newcomers from England, Portugal, France, Canada, Croatia, Senegal and Qatar, many of whom bring professional experience and a maturity that Killings believes will accelerate the team’s development.
Injuries plagued the 2025‑26 squad, forcing the coaching staff to adapt on the fly, but the return of four key athletes — including Shaker High alumnus Zacharie Matulu — provides a foundation on which to build a more resilient lineup.
Killings has already begun shaping the schedule, securing home games against traditional rivals such as Siena and Syracuse, as well as non‑conference contests with Manhattan and Merrimack, aiming to give the team ample opportunities to prove itself before conference play.
The coach’s contract was extended by a year ahead of the 2025‑26 season, a signal of the administration’s confidence in his vision, and he hopes the extended timeline will allow him to fully implement his recruiting and development strategy.
Fans in Albany remain eager to see the Great Danes back in the national spotlight, and Killings says representing the university and the city is a responsibility he takes seriously as he prepares the team for the upcoming 2026‑27 season.