LOGAN, Utah-Friday, Utah State head men’s basketball coach Craig Smith has been named one of 25 finalists for the Jim Phelan Coach of the Year award. This is presented annually to the top men’s basketball coach in NCAA Division I.
The recipient of this award will be announced April 5 at the College Insider Awards Event at Minneapolis, the site of the Final Four.
Smith led the Aggies to a regular season record of 25-6, the most wins for a first year coach in program history.
Other candidates for the award include Tennessee’s Rick Barnes, Chris Beard of Texas Tech, John Beilein of Michigan, Tony Bennett of Virginia, Kentucky’s John Calipari, Kermit Davis of Mississippi, Darian DeVries of Drake, Mark Few of Gonzaga, Sam Houston State’s Jason Hooten, Justin Hutson of Fresno State, Tom Izzo of Michigan State, Dustin Kerns of Presbyterian, Chris Mack of Louisville, Ritchie McKay of Liberty, Eric Musselman of Nevada, Buffalo’s Nate Oats, Matt Painter of Purdue, Mike Rhoades of Virginia Commonwealth, Kelvin Sampson of Houston, Byron Smith of Prairie View A&M, Kansas State’s Bruce Weber, Roy Williams of North Carolina, Steve Wojciechowski of Marquette and Wofford’s Mike Young.
