Jon Coffman enters his 12th season at the helm of the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons, continuing one of the most consistent coaching tenures in the program’s history.
A Decade of Steady Progress Under Coffman
He began the 2025-26 campaign with a 198-155 overall record, including 104 wins split between the Summit League and the Horizon League.
Despite the sustained success, an NCAA Tournament bid has remained just out of reach. Coffman’s Mastodons captured regular-season titles in 2016 and 2022, earning him Coach of the Year honors both times. Still, postseason heartbreak has been a recurring theme for the program.
Building a Culture of Consistency
Few mid-major programs have matched Purdue Fort Wayne’s steady rise under Coffman. The Mastodons have finished above .500 in nine of his 11 seasons, including each of the last four years. The lone exception came during the COVID-affected 2020-21 season.
Last season, the Mastodons looked poised for another strong run before fading late, losing five of their final six games, including a tight Horizon League Tournament defeat to Youngstown State. That finish has only fueled the team’s motivation heading into this year.
Battling Through a Tough Horizon League
The 2025-26 season offers a new challenge in a competitive Horizon League. In the preseason Under Armour HLMBB Poll, Purdue Fort Wayne was projected to finish fifth. One voter did pick the Mastodons to win it all, and the team earned 287 total points in the poll.
Milwaukee, Oakland, Youngstown State, and Robert Morris were all ranked ahead, setting up what should be a deep and unpredictable conference race. Guard Corey Handot II was recognized on the All-Horizon League Second Team, giving Coffman a proven leader to build around.
Finding Balance in the Early Season
Through the first three games of the new season, Purdue Fort Wayne sits at 1-2. Road losses to Grand Canyon and Ohio State exposed some defensive struggles, as the Mastodons gave up 92 points per game in those contests. But their return home brought an explosion of offense with a 137-point outburst against Domician.
Upcoming road games at Western Michigan and Utah, plus a December matchup at Notre Dame, will provide more chances to find consistency before Horizon League play begins.
A Chance to Make History in Fort Wayne
For Coffman, the goal remains clear, build a program capable of finally breaking through to March Madness. The Mastodons have been close before, but this group has the chance to take the next step.
If Purdue Fort Wayne can tighten its defense and maintain its offensive rhythm, the energy inside the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum could fuel a historic run. After more than a decade of building, Coffman and his team are determined to make this season one to remember.