Kevin Baggett begins his 14th season as the head coach of the Rider Broncs, still in search of that elusive first NCAA Tournament appearance.
A Veteran Coach Still Chasing March
The program is coming off its second consecutive losing campaign, finishing 14-19 a year ago. Baggett has experienced success before, leading Rider to a share of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular season title in 2017–18 with a 22-10 record. The Broncs fell short in the MAAC Tournament that year and instead earned a trip to the NIT.
A Career of Steady Leadership
Since taking over in 2012, Baggett has guided the Broncs to a 206-202 overall record, including a 139-113 mark in MAAC play. His teams have posted two 20-win seasons, the first coming in 2014–15.
A native of Philadelphia, Baggett played four years at Saint Joseph’s before beginning on an extensive assistant coaching journey. Stops at James Madison, Western Kentucky, Howard, Coastal Carolina, UMBC, and Rider shaped him into the steady leader the Broncs have come to rely on.
A Challenging Start to 2025–26
The new season begins with two major road tests. Rider opens on November 3 at Virginia, followed by a November 5 matchup at Rutgers. The Broncs’ home opener comes November 15 against Eastern University at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.
The non-conference schedule heats up later with back-to-back games against Texas and Houston in mid-December. Rider will also face a tough road matchup at VCU before the Christmas break.
Climbing the MAAC Ladder
The preseason MAAC coaches’ poll placed Rider 10th, ahead of Saint Peter’s, Niagara, and Canisius. League favorites Quinnipiac, Siena, and Sacred Heart round out the top three.
For Kevin Baggett, the challenge remains consistent: rebuild momentum in the program, inspire his roster, and bring Rider basketball back into MAAC contention after two tough seasons.