DePaul's Doug Bruno Named A Finalist for Naismith Award

Doug Bruno

Twenty of the country’s top collegiate women’s basketball coaches were named as finalists for the Naismith Award, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today. The Naismith Award is the most prestigious national award presented annually to the men’s and women’s college basketball coaches of the year.

The top 20 list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors, comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country. The board based its criteria on coaching performance this season.

“Each of our finalists is more than deserving of this year’s Naismith Award,” said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Tipoff Club president. “These coaches are the best in the business and their contributions have left a lasting impact on their players, programs and the sport of basketball.”

The 20 finalists will be on the ballot in March when the Board of Selectors votes to select this year’s top collegiate coach in the nation. The winner will be recognized at the Naismith Awards Banquet on April 8 in Atlanta.

The candidates for the Naismith Award, listed in alphabetical order, are as follows:

Coach, School
Geno Auriemma, Connecticut
Pam Borton, Minnesota
Doug Bruno, DePaul
Pokey Chatman, LSU
Bill Fennelly, Iowa State
Jim Foster, Ohio State
Brenda Frese, Maryland
Gail Goestenkors, Duke
Sylvia Hatchell, North Carolina
Cathy Inglese, Boston College
Joanne Palombo-McCallie, Michigan State
Deb Patterson, Kansas State
Muffet McGraw, Notre Dame
Kim Mulkey-Robertson, Baylor
Sue Semrau, Florida State
Marsha Sharp, Texas Tech
Dawn Staley, Temple
C. Vivian Stringer, Rutgers
Pat Summitt, Tennessee
Tara VanDerveer, Stanford

Last year’s Naismith Award recipient was Tennessee’s Pat Summitt, whose selection marked her fifth as women’s coach of the year.