THE JIM PHELAN AWARD

2018 Jim Phelan Award

April 2, 2018

THE 2018 PHELAN AWARD
 

SAN ANTONIO, TX -- Ohio State’s Chris Holtmann is the recipient of the 2018 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year award. 
 
Holtmann inherited a team that finished 11th in the Big Ten last season and was picked to finish near the bottom of the league again in 2017-18. Instead the Buckeyes finished the (25-9) and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
 
“Chris Holtmann has enjoyed success at every stop in his coaching career,” said CollegeInsider.com’s Angela Lento. “Gene Smith’s decision to hire Holtmann is one of the best moves by an Athletic Director in recent memory. Chris Holtmann is one of the top five coaches in college basketball.”
 
Holtmann guided the Buckeyes to a 9-0 start in league play, the most wins to open a first season in the Big Ten by a coach since 1923, a 95-year span. Included in the opening league win streak was a victory over No. 1 Michigan State in Columbus. Later in the season the Buckeyes beat No. 3 Purdue, handing the Boilermakers their lone home loss of the season. 

Ohio State finished 15-3 record in conference play and Holtmann was rewarded with Big Ten Coach of the Year honors..

The Jim Phelan award is presented annually to the top coach in division I men's basketball. Phelan led the Mountaineers to the 1962 NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championship. When he retired in 2003, after coaching for 49 years, he had amassed 830 wins (overall record of 830-524) in all divisions. In those 49 years, 19 of his teams amassed 20 or more wins in a season.
 

THE 2018 JIM PHELAN AWARD FINALISTS

Rick Barnes, Tennessee
Chris Beard, Texas Tech
Randy Bennett, Saint Mary's
Tony Bennett, Virginia
Mick Cronin, Cincinnati
Kermit Davis, Middle Tennessee
Mark Few, Gonzaga
Chris Holtmann, Ohio State
Chris Mack, Xavier
Bob Marlin, Louisiana
Porter Moser, Loyola Chicago
Eric Musselman, Nevada
Kelvin Sampson, Houston
Rick Stansbury, Western Kentucky
Jay Wright, Villanova

The Jim Phelan Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top Division I coach, is named in honor of a legendary bow-tied coach who spent his entire career at Mount Saint Mary’s University.
 
He led the Mountaineers to the 1962 NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championship. When he retired in 2003, after coaching for 49 years, he had amassed 830 wins (overall record of 830-524) in all divisions. In those 49 years, 19 of his teams amassed 20 or more wins in a season.
 
The recipient of the 2023-24 award will be announced in April, in Phoenix, AZ site of the men's NCAA Basketball Championship.

2023: Chris Collins, Northwestern
2022: Mark Adams, Texas Tech
2021: Todd Simon, Southern Utah
2020: Steve Pikiell, Rutgers
2019: Ritchie McKay, Liberty

2018: Chris Holtmann, Ohio State

2017: Frank Martin, South Carolina

2016: Greg Gard, Wisconsin

2015: Bob Huggins, West Virginia

2014: Tim Miles, Nebraska

2013: Dana Altman, Oregon

2012: Mike Brey, Notre Dame

2011
: Stew Morrill, Utah State
2010: Jamie Dixon, Pittsburgh
2009: John Calipari, Memphis
2008: Bo Ryan, Wisconsin
2007: Tony Bennett, Washington State
2006: Ben Howland, UCLA
2005: Tubby Smith, Kentucky
2004: Phil Martelli, Saint Joseph's
2003: Mark Slonaker, Mercer

The Jim Phelan award is presented annually to the top division I head coach as voted on by the award committee. All division I head coaches are eligible for the award. 
 
The 10-member voting committee consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of collegeinsider.com.
 
The award is presented annually at the site of the men's Division I NCAA basketball championship. 

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