It’s been a heck of a year for coach Rick Barnes and the Tennessee Volunteers.

After being picked to finish 13th in the SEC, the Vols won a share of the regular-season title and made it all the way to the final of the SEC Tournament, earning a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

For his efforts with a young Vols squad, Barnes was named a finalist for the Naismith Coach of the Year award on Thursday morning, along with Jay Wright, Chris Holtmann and Tony Bennett:

Bennett and Wright coach Virginia and Villanova, respectively — two of the tournament’s four No. 1 seeds. Meanwhile, Holtmann took an Ohio State team with low expectations and made them a No. 5 seed.

Barnes may or may not win the award, but even if he doesn’t, it says a lot about the work he’s done that he even received the nomination.