Troy University Athletics
Dowd Named Finalist for Nolan Richardson Award
3/11/2026 10:12:00 AM | Basketball (M)
BOSTON, Mass. – Thomas Dowd was named a finalist for the Nolan Richardson Award, CollegeInsider.com announced Tuesday. The award is given annually to the Division I player who serves as the heart and soul of his team while demonstrating leadership both on and off the court.
Dowd, who is averaging 14.8 points and 10.1 rebounds this season, was instrumental in Troy winning its second-straight Sun Belt Tournament title. He scored 23 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the championship game and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
Dowd's 17 double-doubles rank ninth in the country, while his 10.1 rebounds per game put him as 15th best nationally.
Dowd received the Sun Belt Elite Award prior to Monday's Sun Belt Championship game, an honor given to a player within the conference who displays excellence both on the court and in the classroom.
ABOUT THE NOLAN RICHARDSON AWARD
The Nolan Richardson award is named in honor of one of the true legends of the game. His frenetic style of fast-break basketball, with full-court pressure, helped him become the only coach to win NJCCA, NIT and NCAA National Championships. After winning a junior college national championship at Western Texas College, Richardson went on to lead Tulsa to the NIT Championship in his first season at the helm. He averaged 24 wins per season in his five years at Tulsa, leading the Golden Hurricanes to three NCAA Tournament appearances.
In 17 seasons at Arkansas, Richardson led the Razorbacks to 9 conference championships, 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, three Final Fours and the 1994 NCAA Championship. His famed "40 Minutes of Hell" produced over 500 career wins.
Nolan Richardson was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame and 2008 and he was enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014.
The recipient of the annual award is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of Collegeinsider.com.
The winner of the award will be announced in Indianapolis, Ind., site of men's Division I Basketball Championship.
NOLAN RICHARDSON AWARD FINALISTS
Chris Asby 6-2 Sr. Queens
Austin Benigni 5-11 Sr. Navy
Rueben Chinyelu 6-10 Jr. Florida
Jack Collins 6-5 Sr. Monmouth
Melvin Council, Jr, 6-4 Sr. Kansas
Zach Cleveland 6-7 Sr. Liberty
Alonzo Dodd 6-1 Sr. Appalachian State
Thomas Dowd 6-8 Jr. Troy
Logan Duncomb 6-10 Sr. Winthrop
Roddy Gayle, Jr. 6-5 Sr. Michigan
Bryce Harris 6-4 Sr. Howard
Nate Heise 6-5 Sr. Iowa State
Sam Hoiberg 6-0 Sr. Nebraska
TJ Hurley 6-5 Sr. Vermont
Tavari Johnson 5-11 Sr. Akron
Alex Karaban 6-8 Sr. UConn
Boopie Miller 6-0 Sr. SMU
Noah Ross 6-0 Sr. UNCW
Braden Smith 6-0 Sr. Purdue
Peter Suder 6-5 Sr. Miami OH
Nick Townsend 6-7 Sr. Yale
Seth Trimble 6-3 Sr. North Carolina
Garfield Turner 6-8 Sr. Drexel
Ace Valentine 6-3 Jr. UMBC
Harry Wessels 7-1 Sr. Saint Mary's
PREVIOUS AWARD WINNERS
Henry Coleman III, Texas A&M (2025); Jamal Shead, Houston (2024)
