On February 23, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced the 10 national semifinalists in consideration for the 2018 Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year. The four finalists will be announced in March.
Several coaches on the semifinalist list include those who have willed their teams to the top of their respective conference, like Virginia's Tony Bennett. Bennett, in his first year coaching the Cavaliers, he's earned a 25-2 record as Virginia currently shares the No. 1 spot in the ACC. Bennett has also accomplished the feat of getting his squad to the top of the AP rankings -- the first time the Cavaliers have occupied the No. 1 spot since 1982.
Joining Bennett on the list is Villanova coach Jay Wright, who is in the thick of his 17th season and is coaching the Wildcats to the top of the Big East. Wright's resume includes five Big East conference titles and 12 NCAA tournament appearances.
Veteran coaches Bruce Pearl of Auburn and Rick Barnes of Tennessee round of the list of coaches.
