ST. LOUIS (USBWA) – Miami (Fla.)'s Jim
Larrañaga is the 2012-13 recipient
of the Henry Iba Coach of the Year Award, presented annually
to the national coach of the year by the U.S. Basketball Writers
Association.
|
Larrañaga |
Larrañaga will be recognized by the USBWA on Friday, April 5, at
a 9:15 a.m. ET news conference in Atlanta in conjunction with the Final Four.
The winner of the Oscar Robertson Trophy as the
national player of the year will also be announced in Atlanta at
that time.
Larrañaga will be formally presented
with the Henry Iba Coach of the Year Award on Monday, April 15, at the
Devon Energy College Basketball Awards gala in
Oklahoma City. The Oscar Robertson Trophy will also be presented
that evening.
In his second season at Miami, Larrañaga, 63, has led the
Hurricanes to a 27-6 record, including the school's first
Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season and tournament titles.
The 'Canes will make their first NCAA Tournament appearance
since 2008 as a No. 2 seed in the East Region.
The USBWA District IV Coach
of the Year and the ACC Coach of the Year has guided the
Hurricanes to a school-record 27 wins, including a 15-3 mark in
ACC play. Miami opened conference play with 13 straight wins.
Currently ranked 5th by the Associated Press, the Hurricanes
have been ranked as high as No. 2 this season.
"Jim Larrañaga's story should inspire us all. He gave
hope to hundreds of so-called 'mid-major' schools by leading
George Mason to the Final Four in 2006," said USBWA President
John Akers of Basketball Times. "Then, in just two seasons
at Miami, he convinced a bunch of players who had known mostly
disappointment to buy in for what has been a dream season. Truly
inspirational."
"Coach L definitely deserves this award because of his
passion for the game of basketball and his dedication to the
team and the University of Miami," said Miami guard Shane
Larkin. "He said he would take this program to the top, and in
only year two, we are ACC champions."
Including this season, Larrañaga now boasts a 517-353 (59.4 winning percentage) overall
career record in 29 seasons as a college head coach. Prior to coming to
Miami, Larrañaga was 273-164 in 14 seasons at George Mason,
including 13 straight winning seasons, five NCAA Tournament
appearances and the school's memorable 2006 Final Four run.
The Henry Iba Award is named in honor of the legendary
Oklahoma State coach who won 655 games and two national
championships in 36 seasons in Stillwater. The award is voted on
by all members of the USBWA at the conclusion of the regular
season. The USBWA has presented a National Coach of the Year
Award each year since the 1958-59 season.
Tickets and sponsorship information for the Devon Energy
College Basketball Awards are available at
collegebasketballawards.com or by contacting Scott Hill (405-749-1515,
scott.hill@access-sports.net).
The April 15 banquet will also honor Oklahoma State guard Marcus
Smart with the Integris Wayman Tisdale Award as
the national freshman of the year and Michigan State coach Tom Izzo
as the recipient of the Wayman Tisdale Humanitarian Award.
The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in
1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers.
Today, it is one of the most influential organizations in college
basketball. For more information on the USBWA and its award programs,
contact executive director Joe Mitch at 314-795-6821.
Related link:
• Henry Iba Coach of the Year
Award
|