Hofstra punches ticket to March Madness with CAA title win

Emotional Speedy Claxton leads Pride to first NCAA Tournament berth since 2000 as a player

Mar. 11, 2026 at 2:51am

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Hofstra men's basketball coach Speedy Claxton, who played for the Pride in 2000, led his alma mater to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in over two decades after an emotional victory in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) championship game. Claxton, who was visibly moved to tears after the win, will be taking Hofstra back to March Madness for the first time since he was a player on the team 25 years ago.

Why it matters

Claxton's journey from Hofstra player to head coach has come full circle, as he now has the opportunity to lead his alma mater in the NCAA Tournament. This achievement is especially meaningful given that the Pride missed out on the 2020 tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic cancellation.

The details

Hofstra defeated No. 4 seed Monmouth 68-65 in the CAA championship game to punch their ticket to the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The Pride also defeated William & Mary and Towson earlier in the tournament to reach the final. Claxton, who is in his fifth season as Hofstra's head coach, was visibly emotional after the win, embracing his assistant coaches as the final seconds ticked off the clock.

  • Hofstra last reached the NCAA Tournament in 2000, when Claxton was a player on the team.
  • Claxton is in his fifth season as Hofstra's head coach, taking over the program in 2021.
  • The Pride won the CAA regular season and tournament crowns in 2020, but missed out on the NCAA Tournament that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic cancellation.

The players

Speedy Claxton

Hofstra's head coach, who played for the Pride from 1996 to 2000 and is the program's all-time leader in assists and steals. Claxton was visibly emotional after leading Hofstra to their first NCAA Tournament berth since he was a player on the team 25 years ago.

Jay Wright

Claxton's former head coach at Hofstra, who was in his sixth season with the Pride when Claxton played for the team in 2000. Wright went on to become a highly successful college basketball coach, winning two national championships at Villanova.

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What they’re saying

“I'm excited they get to share this moment with each other because this is going to last a lifetime. I won championships on a high school level, college level, and professional level, and my collegiate championship meant the most to me.”

— Speedy Claxton, Hofstra Head Coach

What’s next

Hofstra will now wait until Selection Sunday to find out their opponent and location for the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

Speedy Claxton's emotional journey from Hofstra player to head coach has come full circle, as he now has the opportunity to lead his alma mater back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in over two decades. This achievement is especially meaningful given the Pride's missed opportunity in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.