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Charlotte, NC – Long-time head coach Todd Holthaus has been named the 2026 NJCAA DII Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year after leading the Aztecs to their first national title and first 30-win season in program history.
Coach Holthaus has been at the helm of the Pima Women’s Basketball program for 19 seasons and boasts an incredible career record of 429-180. Holthaus surpassed the 400 win milestone after Pima’s win over DI competitor, Yavapai College, early in the 2025-26 season.
“Todd Holthaus being selected as the NJCAA DII Women’s Basketball National Coach of the Year is a powerful reflection of sustained excellence, leadership, and commitment to student-athletes,” said Pima Athletic Director, Ken Jacome.
“Under his leadership, Pima has become one of the premier programs in junior college basketball. Holthaus has developed numerous All-Americans and consistently guided his teams deep into the national tournament, showing not only his ability to win but to develop talent and character at a high level.
Todd has often emphasized that the championship—and the success of the program—belongs to every player who has come through it. That perspective highlights his humility and his focus on legacy over individual recognition.
Coach Holthaus has built a program that represents Pima Community College and the community of Tucson with pride, elevates women’s basketball, and provides opportunities for student-athletes to succeed on and off the court.
Simply put, this honor solidifies Todd Holthaus as one of the elite coaches in the NJCAA and recognizes a career defined by consistency, culture, and championship-level success.”
Pima was slated to face a daunting opponent, the 2024 National Champions and 30-4 Kirkwood in the final of the 2026 NJCAA DII Women’s Basketball Championship.
Pima started hot but trailed all the way up until the second half of the 4th quarter. A surge of will, grit, and want-to came over the Aztecs, who powered through and outscored the Eagles 34-17 in the final 14:15 of the game to take the national title.
Coach Todd Holthaus has had an incredible career with the Pima Aztecs over the last 19 seasons, “Coaching at Pima Community College has been the most rewarding coaching experience of my career. Being able to coach and mentor the young ladies that have come through our program is a humbling experience for everyone involved. The icing on the cake is being able to build Pima into a nationally recognized Women’s Basketball program. Each year it is our goal to continue that tradition forward,” He reflected.
Career Accolades and Accomplishments
- 400 wins (11/4/25)
- Won 20+ games in 10 straight seasons
- Double digit wins in ACCAC conference play since 2008-09
- 10 Region 1/West District titles
- 3-time ACCAC Coach of the Year (2009, 2016, 2026)
- 12 NJCAA DII Women’s Basketball national tournament appearances
- Coached 16 athletes earning All-America honors (5 of which were 2-time recipients)
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