Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Miami’s Jim Larrañaga named Naismith Men’s Coach of the Year

University of Miami coach Larranaga congratulates guard Brown during the first half of their second round NCAA basketball game against Pacific University in Austin

University of Miami coach Jim Larranaga congratulates guard Rion Brown during the first half of their second round NCAA basketball game against Pacific University in Austin, Texas March 22, 2013. REUTERS/Mike Stone (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

REUTERS

While Michigan’s Trey Burke has won the majority of the major National Player of the Year awards the same can be said of Miami’s Jim Larrañaga in regards to the national Coach of the Year honors.

Larrañaga added another trophy to the collection Sunday, as it was announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club that he was the winner of the 2013 Naismith Men’s Coach of the Year award.

Larrañaga, in his second season at the ACC school, led the Hurricanes to a 29-7 record (15-3 ACC) and its first conference title (both regular and postseason) as a member of the conference. Miami reached the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2000, falling to Marquette in an East Region semifinal.

The other finalists for the award were Jim Crews (Saint Louis), Mark Few (Gonzaga) and John Thompson III (Georgetown).

“It is humbling and really an honor to receive a national award like this, especially, in the name of the founder of our game, Dr. James Naismith,” Coach Larrañaga said in a statement.

“I greatly appreciate the recognition by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, its membership and its voting academy to select me because there are so many great college coaches in the country. This really is a team award that represents a lot of hard work by my staff and our players.”

Miami’s rotation featured five seniors so there will be plenty of work to do in 2013-14. And with there being questions as to whether or not sophomore point guard Shane Larkin will enter the NBA Draft, building on this season’s success would be even tougher if Larkin were to leave.

Raphielle also writes for the NBE Basketball Report and can be followed on Twitter at @raphiellej.