Justin Simon Named Carnegie Mellon University Head Men's Basketball Coach

Justin Simon has been named the head coach of the Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball(opens in new window) program following an extensive national search. A championship-winning player and assistant coach at Yale University, Simon will assume leadership of the Tartans on July 1.

"Justin is a tremendous fit for Carnegie Mellon. His deep commitment to student-athlete development and his experience with championship programs make him the right person to lead our men's basketball program into the future," said Director of Athletics Josh Centor(opens in new window). "This is an exciting moment for Tartan basketball, and I am thrilled to welcome Justin and his family to our community."

Simon joins the Tartans following a 13-year coaching tenure at Yale, where he most recently served as associate head coach. During that time, the Bulldogs captured five Ivy League regular season championships, three Ivy League Tournament titles, and made eight postseason appearances, including the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament win in 2016 and a memorable upset over Auburn in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

As a coach, Simon has been responsible for recruiting, post player development and opponent scouting, working with several All-Ivy honorees and Ivy League Players of the Year. He is widely respected for his ability to mentor student-athletes and build sustainable team culture rooted in accountability, excellence and growth.

Simon also brings experience as a former player at Yale, where he was a member of the university's 2002 Ivy League championship team — Yale's first league title in nearly four decades. He has been part of every 20-win season in the program's modern history, including one as a player and five as a coach.

"I want to thank Dr. Centor and the entire search committee for the opportunity to lead the Tartan men's basketball program," Simon said. "It is an incredible honor to lead a program at a school as prestigious as Carnegie Mellon. This is a place that values excellence and integrity, both on the court and in the classroom."

Simon succeeds longtime head coach Tony Wingen, who announced his retirement in April after 34 seasons at the helm. Under Wingen's leadership, the Tartans advanced to three NCAA Tournaments and captured the program's first-ever UAA title in 2006.

The Tartans earned a bid to the 2024 NCAA Tournament and celebrated the grand opening of the new Highmark Center for Health, Wellness and Athletics this past fall. 

"I have the utmost respect for Tony Wingen's dedication to this program and university. To follow someone who poured so much of himself into this job is an honor and a responsibility I don't take lightly," Simon added. "I look forward to packing the Highmark Center and leading a program that aspires to compete at the absolute highest level of Division III basketball. I can't wait to get started. Let's get to work!"

The new Highmark Center facility features a competition arena, practice gym, strength and conditioning center, sports medicine suite, and modern team spaces — marking a transformative investment in the student-athlete experience.

"This is a program on the rise, and Justin is the right person to lead it," Centor added. "He understands what it means to lead at a place like CMU, and his excitement to get to work is contagious. I can't wait for our community to get to know him."