First Place: Todd Starkey
Throughout Todd Starkey’s 10 years as head coach of the Kent State women’s basketball team, winning had become a byproduct of his ability to turn a team into a family.
“They have cried together, laughed together and everything in between,” Starkey said. “That’s probably the most gratifying thing for me as a coach is bringing people together.”
Success was common during Starkey’s tenure as a Flash, with a record of 179 wins, the second most in program history.
“Over the last 10 seasons, Todd established himself as one of the most accomplished coaches in program history,” said athletic director Randale Richmond. “He built something special here, and his impact on this program and the young women he coached will be felt for years to come.”
Most recently, Starkey led KSU to the NCAA tournament in 2024, won over 20 games in three of the last four seasons and appeared in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament four times.
Injuries plagued the Flashes in 2025-26, tampering with preseason expectations of a team as that was projected as the first seed in the Mid-American Conference.
Instead, the team finished 15-16 and lost in the first round of the MAC tournament to the Miami RedHawks in what ended up being Starkey’s first losing season since 2017-18.
“This whole group has been battling human nature to seek comfort and give in,” Starkey said. “They have done just the opposite, and I couldn’t be more proud of a team I’ve coached here.”
More important than Starkey’s basketball team’s performance, he is regarded as one of the best human beings as a coach.
“He’s a great manager of people,” coach Fran Recchia said. “His big words are together, balanced and efficient towards winning and I have learned a lot about how to embrace those from him.”
Recently, Starkey announced his plans to leave KSU with his eyes set on becoming an assistant coach for Arizona.
“The time comes for change, and my time is now,” Starkey said. “What a blessing it has been to be even a small part of the ongoing story of Kent State Athletics, and I will fondly remain a Golden Flash for life.”
Second Place: Rob Senderoff
The all-time winningest coach in Kent State men’s basketball history, Rob Senderoff, reached his 300th win this past season as part of a 24-10 (14-4) regular season for his team and cemented his place in the Best of Kent family.
“14-4 normally wins the league in most years,” Senderoff said. “The guys deserve a lot of credit for helping the team get to that point.”
Despite a disappointing loss to the Akron Zips in the Mid-American Conference tournament semifinals, Senderoff’s 2025-26 team saw major success. The Flashes found themselves in the National Invitational Tournament for the second straight year.
“It’s a recognition for the accomplishments of our team, and it’s not easy to do,” Senderoff said. “There are only three teams in our league that get to play in the postseason.”
Neither the NIT nor the MAC tournament finished ideally. But arguably, Sendersoff’s biggest accomplishment this past season was the player development of Delrecco Gillespie into one of the best forwards in the nation.
“I don’t know if there are any guys who have improved as rapidly as he has in the country,” Senderoff said. “I’m proud of him, and it’s really fun to watch him from my seat.”
Hired in 2011, Senderoff has undeniably brought a winning culture to the Flashes, as he’s totaled 10 seasons with 20 or more wins and never finished with a losing record.
“I appreciate all the folks that come to our games and support us,” Senderoff said. “Appreciate everyone for their dedication to what they do because that makes this a great place.”
Third Place: Jeff Duncan
Basketball is not the only Kent State sport with a record of excellence, as coach Jeff Duncan has continually found ways to win with the baseball team.
In the 2025 season, Duncan led his team to a 38-18 record and won the MAC regular season championship off the back of a 23-7 finish in conference play. Postseason play did not go to plan after an early exit at the hands of the Toledo Rockets. Still, Duncan became the all-time winningest coach in program history.
“Our motto this year is together, tough and process-oriented,” Duncan said. “If we are those three things, we are hard to beat, and I think it’s important for our program to keep that in front of our eyes.”
As a part of Duncan’s impressive resume, 23 Flashes have been drafted to Major League Baseball. He’s also one of four coaches in KSU history to reach 400 wins.
So far in the 2026 season, Duncan has seen even more success. The Flashes claimed a series win against the highly-ranked Tennessee Volunteers as well as a win in a matchup with Ohio State.
“Being home is always a great thing, we call it ‘Schoony magic,” Duncan said. “We love playing at home in front of our fans because it’s a great environment.”
Josh Szeremet is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].
