The Vault Files: Chris Caputo
Inside George Washington’s Rise Under Their New Leader
- By: Tom Harkness and Nathan Mook -
Today's edition of The Vault Files features an exclusive interview between George Washington men's basketball head coach Chris Caputo and Nathan Mook of The Vault Network.
Caputo, 44, has steadily built a name for himself after spending years as a top assistant under legendary coach Jim Larrañaga at George Mason and Miami. Since arriving at George Washington in April 2022, he's led the Revolutionaries to a 52-46 (.531) record across 98 games, signaling a strong start to his head coaching career.
The 2024-25 season stands out as his most impressive to date. Despite losing star guard/forward Garrett Johnson to an ACL tear in July and dealing with ankle troubles that severely limited A-10 All-Freshman Team selection Darren Buchanan Jr., Caputo guided the team to a 21-13 overall record and a 9-9 finish in conference play. It marked the group's first 20-win season since 2016-17 and the second time under Caputo they've posted a .500 or better mark in A-10 play (they went 10-8 in 2022-23).
This offseason has brought significant roster turnover. Buchanan Jr. transferred to Rutgers, while sophomore guard Jacoi Hutchinson left for Longwood, veteran Keegan Harvey departed for Bryant, and forwards Dayan Nessah and Zamoku Weluche-Ume also entered the portal (each still in search of a new home. Additionally, veteran guard Gerald Drumgoole III and reserve big Sean Hansen each graduated.
Still, the future remains bright. The Revolutionaries return a strong core led by Rafael Castro, who paced the team in scoring (14.0 PPG) and led the entire Atlantic 10 in both rebounds (8.9 RPG) and field goal percentage (66%) last season. Supporting him are rising junior guard Trey Autry (10.4 PPG, 45.6% FG, 38.6% 3PT), A-10 All-Freshman Team nominee Christian Jones (8.7 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 2.6 APG, 43.9% FG), and veteran guard Trey Moss (4.7 PPG). Meanwhile, Johnson, who averaged 13.4 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 40.3% from deep in 2023-24, is expected to make a full recovery following his ACL tear, while former three-star recruit Ty Bevins—who saw limited minutes across 27 games last year— will likely take on a more significant role for the Revolutionaries moving forward.
Caputo and his staff were also aggressive in the transfer portal, bringing in a talented group of newcomers. Among them is Hofstra transfer Jena Aranguren, who averaged 14.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists as a sophomore. Bubue Benjamin, a standout from Tarleton State, adds scoring punch after posting 13.9 PPG and 4.6 RPG on 44.1% shooting (38% from three). Additional reinforcements include former Western Kentucky forward Tyrone Marshall Jr. (10.4 PPG, 6.6 RPG), Northwestern transfer Luke Hunger (3.3 PPG, 2.1 RPG across 62 career games), and Duquesne transfer Tre Dinkins (12.3 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 3.1 APG, 37.9% 3PT), who brings experience and shooting.
With a balanced mix of proven veterans and high-upside additions, Caputo's Revolutionaries appear poised to build on their momentum heading into 2025-26.
Subscribers can watch the full video interview with Coach Caputo below: