Villanova’s Jay Wright, Xavier’s Chris Mack Earn National Coach of the Year Awards; Providence’s Dunn A Consensus All-American
NEW YORK – Alongside Villanova’s National Championship victory on Monday night, the BIG EAST also boasted national accolades for both players and coaches alike in the 2015-16 season.
On the eve of his NCAA title victory in Houston, Villanova head coach Jay Wright was named the 2015-16 Naismith National Coach of the Year by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. In doing so, joins John Calipari (Massachusetts 1996, Memphis 2008 and Kentucky 2015) and Mike Krzyzewski (Duke, 1989, 1992, 1999) as the only multi-year winners of the award. Wright became the first BIG EAST coach to win the award in 2006, and now has won twice in 11 years.
Wright was among a group of four finalists that included Tom Crean (Indiana), Bill Self (Kansas) and fellow BIG EAST head coach Chris Mack of Xavier.
Wright was chosen by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s national voting academy, comprised of leading journalists from around the country, current and former head coaches, former award winners and conference commissioners. The committee based its selections on outstanding coaching performances during the 2015-16 college basketball season.
Mack also earned national coach of the year honors as he was honored by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA), CBS Sports and the
Basketball Times. The USBWA Henry Iba Award for National Coach of the Year was awarded on March 9 and 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. Mack will be presented the award at the College Basketball Awards gala and dinner in Oklahoma City on April 11.
Prior to the Final Four in Houston, BIG EAST Player of the Year, Providence forward Kris Dunn was announced as a 2016 Consensus All-America Second Team selection; while NCAA Champion Villanova’s Josh Hart also received votes. Dunn earned second team nods from five different associations.
In addition to Dunn and Hart, Xavier guard Trevon Bluiett and Marquette forward Henry Ellenson also received national mentions.
The full list of awards are below.
2015-16 All-America Honorees
Kris Dunn, Providence
Associated Press All-America Second Team
U.S. Basketball Writers Association All-America Second Team
National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-America Second Team
The Sporting News All-America Second Team
USA Today Sports All-America Third Team
CBS Sports All-America Second Team
Henry Ellenson, Marquette
U.S. Basketball Writers Association Freshman All-America Team
The Sporting News Freshman All-America Team
CBS Sports All-Freshman Team
Josh Hart, Villanova
National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-America Third Team
Trevon Bluiett, Xavier
USA Today Sports All-America Third Team
2015-16 National Coaching Awards
Jay Wright, Villanova
Naismith National Coach of the Year
Chris Mack, Xavier
U.S. Basketball Writers Association Henry Iba Award for National Coach of the Year
CBS Sports National Coach of the Year
Basketball Times National Coach of the Year