| Awarded for | the most outstanding men's basketball head coaches in all levels of competition |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Presented by | NABC United States Marine Corps |
| History | |
| First award | 1959 |
| Most recent | NCAA DI: Kelvin Sampson, Houston NCAA DII: Matt Margenthaler, Minnesota State NCAA DIII: Brooks Miller, Trine NAIA: Scott Moore, Grace Two-year schools: Dillon Hargrove, National Park |
| Website | Official website |
The NABC Coach of the Year is an award given annually by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) to recognize the top head coach in men's college basketball across the four largest college athletic associations in the United States. The award has been given since the 1958–59 season to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I coaches, since 1961–62 to Division II, and since 1975–76 to Division III coaches.[1] At the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) level it has been awarded since 1992–93, while the two-year schools' coaches have been honored since 1983–84.[1] The award is currently sponsored by the United States Marine Corps.[1]
Through the 2023–24 college basketball season, there have been 33 multiple-time winners spanning the four associations. Larry Gipson and Ray Harper are the only repeat winners who were honored at multiple association levels. Gipson won in 1982–83 at the helm of two-year school Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, and again in 2002–03 while leading Division II's Northeastern State. Harper won in 1998–99 and 2000–01 at the NCAA Division II level while also earning the award in 2007–08 in the NAIA.
Two coaches are tied for the most all-time awards, with five apiece: John Wooden of UCLA (Division I) and Ben McCollum of Northwest Missouri State (Division II). Close behind them with four awards is Bo Ryan of Wisconsin–Platteville (Division III).