Brownell named semifinalist for Naismith Coach of the Year

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ATLANTA — Clemson University men’s basketball’s head coach Brad Brownell has been named a semifinalist for the Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year award, announced today by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. Brownell is one of 10 total coaches in the running for Coach of the Year honors.

Coach Brownell has led his 2017-18 Tigers squad to its 14th 20-win campaign and the team currently sits 20-7 overall and is tied for fourth place in the ACC (9-6). Before the season, Clemson was picked to finish 13th by the media. As it stands, a nine-place improvement from preseason to postseason would be the highest differential in ACC history.

Coach Brownell could become the first Clemson coach to be a finalist for a National Coach of the Year award since 1996-97 when Rick Barnes was a finalist for the AP National Coach of the Year award. Cliff Ellis was a finalist in 1986-87 and 1989-90.

Using the list of 10, the Naismith Awards master voting academy will identify four finalists, to be announced on March 15.

The Werner Ladder Naismith Trophy for Men’s College Coach of the Year will be announced on during the Naismith Awards brunch April 1 at Pearl Stable in San Antonio, Texas.

Fans will be able to vote for head coach Brad Brownell if he’s named a finalist by visiting naismithtrophy.com/vote between March 19-30 to cast their ballot, which will account for five percent of the final tally.

Head coach Brad Brownell has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Coach of the Year award!#ClemsonGrit?? pic.twitter.com/o05qItBgz1

— Clemson Men's Basketball (@ClemsonMBB) February 23, 2018

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