Coming off the team's first-ever NCAA Division III National Championship, a 25-6 overall record in 2008 and back-to-back Final Four appearances, Mark Edwards has established the Washington University in St. Louis men's basketball team as a perennial national power.

In 27 seasons at the helm, Edwards has become nationally known as a successful and well-respected NCAA Division III basketball coach. He has posted a 477-233 (.672) overall record and garnered D3hoops.com (2008), NABC (2008) and DIII News Coach of the Year honors (2002, 2008), along with five University Athletic Association (UAA) Coach of the Year awards.

Over the past 20 seasons, the Bears have enjoyed their most success, winning 20 or more games eight times, participating in 13 NCAA tournaments, and finishing first or second 18 of 21 times in the competitive UAA. Washington U.’s 21-year record in the UAA – 221-70 (.759 winning percentage) – is the league’s best mark since its inception in 1987-88. In addition, 10 student-athletes have earned 15 All-America awards under Edwards, along with four Academic All-America honorees.

After winning a combined 17 games in his first three seasons, Edwards has guided the Bears to a school-record 24 consecutive winning seasons, while playing a demanding NCAA Division III schedule each year.

Edwards most recently mentored 2008 D3hoops.com, DIII News, Jostens Awards Recipient and ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America honoree, Troy Ruths.

In 2006-07, Edwards was named the D3Hoops.com Midwest Region Coach of the Year after guiding the Bears to the Final Four for the first time in program history. Washington U. tied the school record for most wins in a season with a 25-5 overall record, and finished third in the NCAA Tournament, its highest finish in school history.

The Bears also won their eighth UAA title, a conference record, and qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the 12th time in the Edwards era. In a 58-55 win over No. 10 Hope College on March 10, Edwards recorded his 450th career victory.

In 2002-03, the Bears won their second-consecutive UAA championship and finished the regular season with a 24-1 record. In 2001-02, Edwards was named the Molten/DIII News Coach of the Year after guiding the Bears to a school-record 25 wins, against just two losses, a sixth UAA title and a berth in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. That came on the heels of a 23-4 campaign in 2000-01 that, at the time, tied the single-season record for victories.

After playing four years of basketball for the Bears, Edwards graduated from Washington University in 1969. He spent the 1969-70 season as a Bears assistant coach, before the program was dropped.

After a brief stint in the Army, Edwards ended up at Washington State University as a graduate assistant coach. Spending one semester as a graduate assistant under former Bear coach Bob Greenwood, Edwards spent the next nine years assisting George Raveling. In Edwards’ last six years with Raveling (1975-81), Washington State compiled a 104-58 record. The .642 winning percentage during that span ranked second in the Pac-10 Conference behind UCLA.

In 1981, with the Washington University program still dormant, Edwards received a phone call from athletics director John Schael. Schael asked Edwards if he might have an interest in restarting the program. Edwards jumped at the opportunity.

As Washington U.’s head coach, Edwards was named the 1986-87 NCAA Division III South Region Coach of the Year. In the summer of 1993, Edwards served as an assistant coach for the North squad at the U.S. Olympic Festival in San Antonio. The North team, coached by Providence University’s Pete Gillen, captured the gold medal.

As a player, the Peoria, Ill., native lettered four years in basketball at Washington University and was the team’s MVP and captain his senior year. Edwards held the school record for most rebounds in a game until the 1999-2000 season, and is 10th in career rebounding with 568.