Fairfield's Ed Cooley Named as Finalist for the Ben Jobe National Coach of the Year Award
MAAC Sports
Fairfield University men's basketball head coach Ed Cooley is one of 15 finalists for the inaugural Ben Jobe Award, announced by CollegeInsider.com. The award will be presented annually to the top minority coach in Division I college basketball.
As of today, this elite group of fifteen coaches has fashioned an average record of 21-9 this season. The other finalists are Tommy Amaker (Harvard), Mike Anderson (Missouri), Tevester Anderson (Jackson State), Tony Barbee (UTEP), Todd Bozeman (Morgan State), Mike Davis (UAB), Stan Heath (South Florida), Ron Hunter (IUPUI), Sydney Johnson (Princeton), Johnny Jones (North Texas), Marvin Menzies (New Mexico State), Shaka Smart (VCU), John Thompson III (Georgetown) and Cliff Warren (Jacksonville).
The award is named for coaching legend Ben Jobe, who spent the majority of his career at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, won 524 games in 31 years. He is best known for his accomplishments at Southern University, where he took the program to four NCAA Tournament appearances and one NIT berth.
A 30-member selection committee will vote this month and the winner of the inaugural Ben Jobe Award will be announced at the Final Four in Indianapolis.
2010 BEN JOBE AWARD FINALISTS
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Coach
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School
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Tommy Amaker
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Harvard
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Mike Anderson
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Missouri
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Tevester Anderson
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Jackson State
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Tony Barbee
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UTEP
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Todd Bozeman
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Morgan State
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Ed Cooley
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Fairfield
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Mike Davis
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UAB
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Stan Heath
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South Florida
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Ron Hunter
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IUPUI
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Sydney Johnson
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Princeton
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Johnny Jones
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North Texas
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Marvin Menzies
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New Mexico State
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Shaka Smart
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VCU
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John Thompson III
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Georgetown
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Cliff Warren
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Jacksonville
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