University of Kentucky head men’s basketball coach John Calipari has been named one of four finalists for the Naismith College Coach of the Year the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced on Thursday. A two-time winner of the award in 2008 and 1996, Calipari is looking to become only the second coach to earn the honor three times. Voted this year’s Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year by league coaches and the Associated Press, Calipari led the Wildcats to a 16-0 mark in the SEC this year as well as the No. 1 ranking (AP) for eight-straight weeks. Calipari also broke the UK record for consecutive home wins in Rupp Arena this year, extending his streak to 51-straight games. He joins Jim Boeheim (Syracuse), Frank Haith (Missouri) and Bill Self (Kanas) as the four finalists for the award. The finalists were determined by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s National Voting Academy, comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country. The academy based its criteria on coaching performances this season. The winner will be announced at the Naismith Awards Welcome Brunch on April 1 in New Orleans.
