Former MVNU coach Flemming receives SCB Lifetime Achievement Award

Small College Basketball recently recognized Scott Flemming as the 2026 recipient of the SCB Lifetime Achievement Award.

Now in its eighth year, the award honors individuals whose careers have made a lasting impact on the landscape of small college basketball.

"Small College Basketball is proud to present the Lifetime Achievement Award to Scott Flemming,” said John McCarthy, founder of Small College Basketball. “He's used the coaching platform as a force for good around the world, transforming the lives of people around the globe. He's highly respected as a coach, and even more respected as a special, caring human. Congratulations, Coach Flemming, on being named as the Small College Basketball Lifetime Achievement Award winner."

A Louisville, Ohio, native, Flemming graduated from Mount Vernon Nazarene. He would later go on to earn a Masters in Communications from Wheaton College and a Masters in Sports Science from the United States Sports University. Flemming started his coaching career as an assistant from 1982-84 at Mount Vernon Nazarene. He would then go on to coach for two years as an assistant at Wheaton College, before getting the head coaching position and athletic director role at Nyack College.

After a three-year stint at Nyack, Flemming returned to Mount Vernon Nazarene where he was the head coach and athletic director for close to 20 years. Between Nyack and Mount Vernon Nazarene, Flemming amassed 440 career collegiate wins. He was twice named Coach of the Year at Mount Vernon Nazarene and led the Cougars to the NAIA National Tournament eight times and won the NCCAA National Championship in 2002.

"I had the privilege to play for Coach Flemming and to also work for him at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. He continues to have the unique ability to recruit at a high level, develop players, and create a winning culture while also investing in the personal growth of his team members," said Chip Wilson, director of athletics at MVNU. "He always led with integrity, pushed with purpose, and believed in people even before they believed in themselves. The lessons he gave went far beyond the game of basketball, and his influence has impacted generations. This award is a celebration of a career defined not just by success, but by significance. Congratulations Coach."

In June of 2010, Flemming joined the Texas Legends, the NBA G League affiliate of the Dallas Mavericks. In November of 2012 Flemming was named the Head Basketball Coach of the Men’s National Team in India. During his first tenure as the head coach of the India men’s national team, he guided the team to the South Asia Championship in 2013 and 2014. Flemming guided the team to it’s biggest victory in India basketball history, defeating China 65-58 in the 2014 FIBA Asia Cup.

“I am extremely grateful for this award, in light of almost 30 years of my coaching experience being involved in small college basketball,” said Flemming. “Of course, in any honor such as this, I share it with so many players, coaches and friends that I have joined with along this wonderful journey. The victories are special, but it is truly about the meaningful relationships that have impacted my life.”

Flemming returned to collegiate coaching in 2015 at Northwest Nazarene University. After two years with the Nighthawks, Flemming returned to India as the Senior Director of Basketball Operations for NBA India. He would then go on to become the Technical Director for the NBA Academy India, before taking over as the head coach of the Basketball Federation of India. Flemming spent a total of 12 years in India. Most recently Flemming has joined Athletes in Action. During his extraordinary career Flemming directed numerous basketball camps and coached internationally in Sweden, Poland, Africa, Mexico, and Jamaica.

Flemming will be awarded the SCB Lifetime Achievement Award at the National Awards Show on Sunday, April 26, in Kansas City. For more information on the SCB Lifetime Achievement Award and Small College Basketball head to smallcollegebasketball.com.