Wagner Names Dwan McMillan Head Men's Basketball Coach

The 36-year-old led the Seahawks as interim coach last season after a suspension of the previous head coach.

Apr. 20, 2026 at 3:48pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in bold, geometric shapes and colors, representing the strategic complexity and dynamic energy of a college basketball game.The geometric, cubist-inspired illustration captures the dynamic energy and strategic complexity of college basketball, mirroring the challenges faced by new Wagner head coach Dwan McMillan as he aims to elevate the program.Staten Island Today

Wagner University has removed the interim tag and hired Dwan McMillan as its new head men's basketball coach, CBS Sports reported on Monday. McMillan, 36, took over the Seahawks program last season after the school suspended previous head coach Donald Copeland amid player complaints about abusive behavior in practices. Despite a 1-6 start and a seven-game losing streak in conference play, McMillan guided Wagner to a 14-17 overall record and 8-10 mark in the Northeast Conference.

Why it matters

Wagner has a history of producing successful basketball coaches, with current UConn head coach Dan Hurley and former Seton Hall and NBA coach P.J. Carlesimo both having served as head coaches for the Seahawks in the past. McMillan's promotion represents an opportunity for the program to build on last season's performance and potentially return to the upper echelon of the Northeast Conference.

The details

McMillan joined the Wagner staff as an assistant coach in 2024 after previously serving as the recruiting coordinator at Fordham from 2022-24. Despite the team's early-season struggles, McMillan was able to guide the Seahawks to an 8-10 conference record, a significant improvement from the previous season's 5-13 mark.

  • McMillan took over as interim head coach at the start of the 2025-26 season.
  • Wagner finished the 2025-26 season with a 14-17 overall record and 8-10 in Northeast Conference play.

The players

Dwan McMillan

The 36-year-old was promoted from interim to permanent head coach of the Wagner men's basketball team.

Donald Copeland

The previous head coach of the Wagner men's basketball team who was suspended amid player complaints about abusive behavior in practices.

Dan Hurley

Current head coach of the UConn men's basketball team, who previously served as head coach of the Wagner Seahawks from 2010-2012.

P.J. Carlesimo

Former head coach of the Wagner Seahawks from 1976-1982, who later went on to coach in the NBA with the Seton Hall Pirates and several professional teams.

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What’s next

McMillan will look to build on the momentum from last season and lead the Seahawks to a strong performance in the 2026-27 Northeast Conference season.

The takeaway

The hiring of Dwan McMillan as the permanent head coach of the Wagner men's basketball team represents a chance for the program to continue its tradition of producing successful coaches and potentially return to the top of the Northeast Conference standings.