Fairmont State University Men's Basketball

Tim Koenig enters his seventh season as the Head Men's Basketball Coach at Fairmont State University in 2025-26. Koenig was named the university's 13th head men's basketball coach on June 28, 2019. Koenig, the 2019 Mountain East Conference Coach of the Year, arrived at Fairmont State after six years as head men's basketball coach at Notre Dame College (Ohio). The Falcons went 27-5 for the 2024-25 season with a conference record of 17-3 before taking home the MEC Tournament Championship in a thrilling triple-overtime game tp return to the NCAA Division II National Tournament. David Jolinder led the way as he was named All-MEC First Team and the NABC Second Team. Joining him in the all-conference accolades were Andre Harris (Second Team) and Tommy Williams (Honorable Mention).  Fairmont State posted a record of 21-8 while going 13-7 in conference play for the 2023-24 season. The men's basketball team had three of its members named All-MEC with Zyon Dobbs leading the way as he was named First Team. Joining him in the postseason recognition were David Jolinder (Second Team) and Tommy Williams (Honorable Mention). In 2022-23, Koenig led the Falcons to their fifth-consecutive NCAA Division II National Tournament appearance after a 24-8 overall record. Fairmont State was among eight schools in the country to receive a bid to the postseason tournament in each of the previous five seasons. As a team, the Falcons scored an average of 92.1 points per game, which was the fourth-highest average out of all Division II teams. The Fighting Falcons secured the most wins (24) in a single season since the 2016-17 national runner-up season under Koenig's watch. Koenig coached a trio of All-MEC performers, highlighted by All-MEC First Team, All-MEC Tournament Team and NABC All-Region First Team standout Isaiah Sanders. Sanders was named to the 2023 NABC - Reese's Division II College All-Star Game and finished with a game-high 28 points in the event. George Mangas (All-MEC Second Team) and Zyon Dobbs (All-MEC Honorable Mention) also garnered postseason recognition. During the 2021-22 season, Koenig guided Fairmont State to a record of 23-8 as the Falcons finished No. 24 in the final edition of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) National Poll. Zyon Dobbs, Isaiah Sanders, and Cole VonHandorf all received conferences honors as the Mountain East Conference announced the all-conference teams for the 2021-22 season. Sanders earned All-MEC First Team honors for the third year in a row while Dobbs and VonHandorf were both named to the All-MEC Second Team. Koenig and Fairmont State knocked off No. 8 West Liberty in West Liberty on January 8th, 100-97, as the Falcons scored 60 points in the second half to overcome a 15-point first-half deficit. Koenig mentored Isaiah Sanders as he was named to the Bevo Francis Top 100 Watch List in March 2022 and was named to the NABC Division II All-Atlantic First Team. Sanders, a 6-5 guard from Sicklerville, N.J., garnered All-Atlantic Region Second Team honors from the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA) as he led the Falcons in scoring with 21.2 points per game. During the 2020-21 season, Koenig led the Falcons to a 15-5 overall record and won the program's first conference tournament championship since 1984. Koenig and the Falcons knocked-off a pair of nationally ranked teams on their way to tournament crown - topping No. 12 Charleston in the semifinals and No. 19 West Liberty in the finals. The Falcons also qualified for the NCAA Atlantic Regional for the seventh time in the last nine seasons. Standouts Dale Bonner and Isaiah Sanders were both first team All-MEC selections and were later recognized as honorees on the NABC All-District Team. In his first season leading the Fairmont State program, Koenig led the Falcons to a 23-7 overall record and the No. 3 seed in the MEC Men's Basketball Tournament. The Falcons advanced to the MEC Tournament semifinals and also earned the No. 5 seed in the 2020 NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional - the program's sixth NCAA Tournament bid in the last eight seasons. Koenig led the team to a 22-6 record in the 2019-20 regular season, which is the best regular season finish for the first-year head coach in the program's history. The 23 total wins during the season also tied Jarrod Calhoun for the most wins by a first-year head coach at Fairmont State. Three Fairmont State players earned MEC postseason honors in 2019-20, including first team selections Dale Bonner and Cole VonHandorf. Kenzie Melko-Marshall also earned All-MEC second team honors. Bonner was also a second team All-Atlantic Region selection and was named the MEC Freshman of the Year.   "I am thrilled to welcome Tim Koenig to Fairmont State University as our head men's basketball coach," said then-Director of Athletics Chad Fowler. "Tim has great energy and his love and passion for the game of basketball is exactly what we were looking for in our next head coach.   "Our men's basketball program has had tremendous success under Jarrod Calhoun and Joe Mazzulla the past seven seasons and we look forward to that success continuing this season and in the future under Tim Koenig's leadership," Fowler added.   Koenig was named the MEC Coach of the Year after leading NDC to a historic season in 2018-19. The Falcons went 20-8 and earned the No. 3 seed in the MEC Men's Basketball Tournament before earning the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by winning the league's tournament championship. Notre Dame topped a pair of NCAA Tournament teams to win the MEC Championship with victories over Fairmont State and West Liberty in the semifinals and finals, respectively.   The 2018-19 season marked the first-ever 20-win regular season in Notre Dame College history, and the Falcons also set a record for MEC wins in a season with 16. Koenig also led the program to its first ever conference tournament championship and first-ever NCAA Tournament bid this past winter.   "I would like to thank President Mirta Martin, Vice President Tim McNeely, Director of Athletics Chad Fowler, members of the board of governors and all supporters of the men's basketball program for believing in me and giving me this opportunity," said Koenig. "It's always a tough decision to move your family from where you grew up, but when this job was offered to me, my family and I knew it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up.   "Coach Joe Retton is the measuring stick for coaches at all levels of college basketball and I look forward to meeting and working with the current roster to keep this program at the elite level that Jerrod Calhoun and Joe Mazzulla raised it to over the past seven seasons," Koenig added.   Koenig has coached the only All-Americans in Notre Dame College history, which includes Will Vorhees in 2019 and Tyree Gaiter in 2016. In fact, Vorhees earned D2CCA Atlantic Region Player of the Year and Mountain East Conference Player of the Year honors following the 2018-19 season. In all, Koenig has coached two All-Americans, 11 All-MEC picks, and five All-Region selections.   Prior to an injury-prone campaign in 2017-18, the Falcons showed great improvement under Koenig's leadership. After 11 wins in his inaugural season, the Falcons recorded 16 or more wins in years two through four under his direction (2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17).   Koenig led NDC to a 20-win season during 2015-16 with a record of 21-11. That season, Notre Dame defeated a pair of top-five nationally ranked opponents and advanced to the program's first-ever Mountain East Conference Championship Game before eventually falling to Concord in the finals.   Koenig began his collegiate coaching career at Notre Dame College as a graduate assistant from 2006 to 2008 before being promoted to Assistant Men's Basketball Coach and serving in the role from 2009 to 2011. Prior to becoming head coach at NDC, Koenig spent a year away from the program – serving as Director of Marketing and Admissions at St. Peter Chanel High School. He was also an assistant coach at Lake Erie College during 2012.   As a collegiate athlete, Koenig played baseball and basketball at Case Western Reserve University. While at Case, he was captain of the baseball team his junior and senior seasons. He was named second team All-UAA in 2006.   Koenig graduated from Case Western Reserve University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology in 2006. In 2009, Koenig graduated from the Teacher Education TEEL program at Notre Dame College, which allows him to teach grades 7-12 Biology and Chemistry.   Koenig and his wife Nicole have three children – Kyle, Gabriella and Christopher. The family resides in Fairmont.   Year School Overall Conf. Notes 2013-14 Notre Dame 11-19 8-14 2014-15 Notre Dame 16-14 11-11 2015-16 Notre Dame 21-11 12-10 MEC Tournament Runner-up 2016-17 Notre Dame 16-13 10-12 2017-18 Notre Dame 6-22 4-18 2018-19 Notre Dame 23-9 16-6 NCAA Tournament, MEC Tournament Champions 2019-20 Fairmont State 23-7 16-6 NCAA Tournament 2020-21 Fairmont State 15-5 12-4 NCAA Tournament, MEC Tournament Champions 2021-22 Fairmont State 23-8 16-6 NCAA Tournament 2022-23 Fairmont State 24-8 17-5 NCAA Tournament 2023-24 Fairmont State 21-8 13-7 2024-25 Fairmont State 27-5 17-3 NCAA Tournament, MEC Tournament Champions Record (at FSU) 133-41 (.764) 91-31 (.746) Career Record 226-129 (.637) 152-102 (.598)  

Trent Howard was hired in July 2024 as an assistant coach under head coach Tim Koenig. Prior to Fairmont State, Howard spent five seasons at both Concord University and the University of Akron. In his final season at Concord (2023-24), the team finished with a program best of 21 regular season wins. Their 22-8 overall record secured them a 6-seed in the 2024 NCAA DII National Tournament. In five seasons at Concord, Howard was pivotal in the development of seven All-Conference selections. He was responsible for the recruitment of two First Team All-Conference selections in Daniel Rahama (2023) and Kollin Tolbert (2024). Prior to Concord, Howard spent two seasons at the University of Akron as a graduate assistant under head coach John Groce. His main responsibilities included assisting with opponent scouting, player development, academics, and day-to-day operations. In his five seasons at Akron, Howard spent three as a manager and practice player for head coach Keith Dambrot. In those three years, Akron secured two regular season MAC Championships and appearances in back-to-back conference tournament championship games. The Upper Sandusky, Ohio native graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Akron in 2016 and completed his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Akron in May 2019. Howard and his wife Destiny have a son, Archie.  

Donald Kummer was elevated to Assistant Men's Basketball Coach on Head Coach Tim Koenig's staff in August 2021 after being named Fairmont State's men's basketball graduate assistant in May 2020. Coach Kummer has learned different skills from several coaches during his time at Fairmont State and has developed relationships with several players and coaches.   This past season (2024-2025), the Fighting Falcons earned the most wins (27) in a single season since the 2016-2017 national runner-up season under Kummer’s coaching. The Fighting Falcons also won the Mountain East Conference Tournament Championship for the second time in 5 years and made the NCAA tournament for the sixth time in seven years. The Falcons were consistently in the NABC Top 10 all season long. Kummer helped develop All-MEC First Team and NABC All-Region Second Team player David Jolinder.   For the past three seasons, Kummer took the lead on skill development specifically with the Fairmont State guards/wings and on opponent scouting/preparation for game days. He is responsible for distributing scouting reports and analyzing film on opposing defensive tendencies and creating offensive schemes for the team. Kummer also assists Head Men's Basketball Tim Koenig with recruiting responsibilities and assists the student-athletes with academics. He also tracks the team's academic performance (Team GPA has never been below a 3.0) and serves as the team's academic advisor. Kummer also oversees operational duties for the men's basketball team and coordinates the team's travel plans, team meals, and practice schedules.   Kummer helped lead the Falcons to their fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance in the 2022-23 season. Kummer mentored and developed All-MEC First Team and NABC All-Region First Team player Isaiah Sanders. George Mangas (All-MEC Second Team) and Zyon Dobbs (All-MEC Honorable Mention) also garnered postseason recognition under Kummer's watch.   In addition to his coaching duties with the men's basketball team, Kummer assisted the Fairmont State women's basketball team during the 2022-23 season and was a key part in helping the team earn their most victories since the 2012-13 season. Kummer coached All-MEC First Team and D2CCA All-Region player Alyssa DeAngelo and All-MEC Second Team player Katy Darnell. He assisted in on-court workouts and practices and was in charge of team meals for the women's basketball team.   In 2021-22, Fairmont State had an overall record of 23-8 with the Fighting Falcons reaching their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. Kummer was instrumental in helping Fairmont State guard Isaiah Sanders to All-MEC First Team and to the D2CCA All-Atlantic Region Team. Kummer also mentored All-MEC Second Team honorees Zyon Dobbs and Cole VonHandorf in 2022 as well.   After his playing career at Fairmont State, Kummer joined Koenig's staff as the graduate assistant for the 2020-21 season. The Falcons men's basketball finished the shortened season with an overall record of 15-5 and collected the Mountain East Conference Tournament trophy for the first time since 1984 with an upset victory over West Liberty. Kummer mentored All-MEC First Team and D2CCA All-Region First Team player Dale Bonner. Sanders also garnered All-MEC First Team recognition and D2CCA Second Team All-Region recognition in 2021.   In his playing career at Fairmont State, Kummer was a redshirt freshman on the 2016-17 National Championship Runner-Up men's basketball team with current Utah State Head Coach Jarrod Calhoun. He also played point guard for current Boston Celtics Head Coach and former West Virginia Mountaineer point guard Joe Mazzulla. Kummer helped lead the team to an NCAA Tournament appearance his junior season in 2018-19. In 2019-20, Kummer played point guard under current Head Coach Tim Koenig and led the Falcons to the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row.   Kummer, a native of Bridgeport, W.Va., graduated with a Master's in Business Administration from Fairmont State in August 2021 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Fairmont State in May 2020.  

Tim Baab is entering his fifth season as Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at Fairmont State University. He arrived in Fairmont during the summer of 2019 to join Tim Koenig’s staff. Baab has been apart of two MEC Tournament Championships alongside Koenig, including 2021 at Fairmont State and 2019 at Notre Dame College.   Baab also coached with Koenig as a member of his staff at Notre Dame College from 2013-19. Baab brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Falcons bench, having previously coached at John Carroll. Baab is a vital part of operations and recruiting for the men’s basketball program. Baab previously served as head men's basketball coach at John Carroll from 1979-1992. While at John Carroll, he also coached soccer, golf, and was in charge of the pep band, cheerleaders and dance team. He also taught multiple PE classes as well as theory of coaching and facilities classes.  Prior to coaching, Baab worked for the NCAA, as the D-I Men's Basketball Regional Advisor to the National Coordinator of Officials. Their mission was to identify the top 100 officials for the NCAA tournament each year.  Baab resides in Chagrin Falls, Ohio with his wife Susan. They have three children, Joe, Emily, and Kenny.