Finalists for MM Coach of the Year - MBB

[TexasTerror]

Marlin was #2 in the mid-season vote. I think there's definitely a good chance that a guy like Pat Flannery wins the award. Jim Larranaga would not surprise me at all...

FINALISTS FOR 2006 HUGH DURHAM AWARD ANNOUNCED

The fifteen finalists for the 2006 Hugh Durham mid-major coach of the year were announced on Wednesday. Included among the finalists are Bucknell’s Pat Flannery, who received the mid-season coaching honors, and Pacific’s Bob Thomason who was the first-ever recipient of the award last season.

The other thirteen finalists are Mike Adras (Northern Arizona), Ronnie Arrow (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi), Brad Brownell (UNC-Wilmington), Bobby Gonzalez (Manhattan), Jim Larranaga (George Mason), Jim Les (Bradley), Bob Marlin (Sam Houston State), Mike McConathy (Northwestern State), Tim Miles (North Dakota State), Jimmy Patsos (Loyola-MD), Steve Payne (Tennessee Tech), Buzz Peterson (Coastal Carolina) and Mark Turgeon (Wichita State).

Previously known as simply the CollegeInsider.com mid-major coach of the year, the award was renamed in 2005 to recognize Hugh Durham who built national programs at Florida State and Georgia where he is the school’s all-time winningest coach.

“It’s an honor that Joe (Dwyer) and Angela (Lento) have decided to do this,” said Durham. “There are a lot of more deserving coaches that they could have honored so this is very humbling. I have always considered myself as ‘coach’s coach so this is a very nice honor.”

The 20-member panel, which is chaired by Durham, is headlined by division I head coaches Mike Brey (Notre Dame), Barry Collier (Nebraska), Seth Greenberg (Virginia Tech), Dan Monson (Minnesota), Lute Olson (Arizona) and Kelvin Sampson. All final ballots will be cast by March 12 and the winner will be announced at the 2006 Final Four in Indianapolis, IN.

2006 HUGH DURHAM AWARD FINALISTS
Coach School
Mike Adras Northern Arizona
Ronnie Arrow Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Brad Brownell UNC-Wilmington
Pat Flannery Bucknell
Bobby Gonzalez Manhattan
Jim Larranaga George Mason
Jim Les Bradley
Bob Marlin Sam Houston State
Mike McConathy Northwestern State
Tim Miles North Dakota State
Jimmy Patsos Loyola (MD)
Steve Payne Tennessee Tech
Buzz Peterson Coastal Carolina
Bob Thomason Pacific
Mark Turgeon Wichita State

http://www.hughdurhamaward.com/2006_finalists.html

[ngineer]

While a believe Flannery is an excellent technical coach and recruiter--he gets placed into the category of ultimate whiners. I can't stand the machinations, footstomping, handwringing, crying to officials. It gets old real quick. Give me Fran O'Hanlon or Billy Taylor anyday.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Mike Adras Northern Arizona
Ronnie Arrow Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Brad Brownell UNC-Wilmington
Pat Flannery Bucknell
Bobby Gonzalez Manhattan
Jim Larranaga George Mason
Jim Les Bradley
Bob Marlin Sam Houston State
Mike McConathy Northwestern State
Tim Miles North Dakota State
Jimmy Patsos Loyola (MD)
Steve Payne Tennessee Tech
Buzz Peterson Coastal Carolina
Bob Thomason Pacific
Mark Turgeon Wichita State

http://www.hughdurhamaward.com/2006_finalists.html

What a tough, tough, tough choice this year. A major surprise that UNI's coach is not on the list. I think it may be MVC-mate Turgeon that wins it, but Turgeon, Les, McConathey, Larranaga, Flannery, Thomasen... what a murderer's row of coaches.

[wannabegaucho]

Thomason deserves some look, as many people predicted CSU Fullerton to be the Big West leader, and they're in 6th.

[dbackjon]

I know this is a homer pick, but given that NAU was picked towards the bottom of the Big Sky this year, Mike Adras is as deserving as anyone.

[colgate13]

Flannery gets it IMO. He's taken Bucknell from a 'who?' to a part of the national BB picture and the first PL ranking ever.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

I think David Henderson should be on the list as he has single handedly help advance all of the other CAA hoops programs. Those two free "W's" just might be the difference in getting two CAA teams to the dance this year.

[bandl]

No Karl Hobb from GW?? Crap.

'Course...I consider GW to be a mid-major, although they technically aren't...are they?

[TexasTerror]

No Karl Hobb from GW?? Crap.

'Course...I consider GW to be a mid-major, although they technically aren't...are they?

They are not a mid-major as considered by CollegeInsider.com who does the MM Top 25 and all these mid-major awards...

[Cap'n Cat]

No McDermott from Northern Iowa??

Unbelievable.

:rolleyes:

[Pard4Life]

They are not a mid-major as considered by CollegeInsider.com who does the MM Top 25 and all these mid-major awards...

GWU should be a mid-major. IMO, the A10 is a midmajor conference nowadays.