Kentucky basketball: John Calipari named 2015 NABC Coach of the Year

While the main award for college basketball won’t be given until next Monday, those involved with Kentucky basketball in the Wildcats’ historic season continue to churn in the post season accolades. Despite not collecting the AP Coach of the Year, it was announced yesterday the John Calipari will be this year’s recipient of the NACB Coach of the Year award.

This is Coach Cal’s third time winning the award, with him earning the previous two while at other institutions (Massachusetts 1996; Memphis 2009).

Kentucky Wildcats

The future Hall of Fame head coach has led the Kentucky Wildcats to their fourth Final Four in the past five years. The Wildcats also boast being the first team to enter the Final Four undefeated since 1991. He also tied his NCAA D-1 record for wins in a single season (38, previous teams 07-08 Memphis, 11-12 Kentucky) with the victory over Notre Dame on Saturday to advance the Wildcats to the Final Four in Indianapolis.

This award adds to Cal’s list of achievements for this season, in addition to being named SEC coach of the year for the second time, as well as Sporting News National Coach of the Year, and is currently one of the four finalists for the Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year.

Coach Cal is also one of the 12 finalists for this years class to go into the Naismith Memorial College Basketball Hall of Fame. This year’s class will be announced Monday in a press conference prior to the National Championship game, potentially adding one more accolade for Calipari for this already historic season.