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For the first time ever, the AP Coach of the Year Award will be split between 2 coaches as Bruce Pearl and Rick Pitino were named co-winners on Friday afternoon.
Pearl and Pitino each received 20 votes from the media panel that also votes on the AP Top 25 each week. Thus, the veteran coaches will share the honor for the first time in the 58-year history of the award.
Pearl led Auburn to one of the most remarkable regular seasons in recent memory. The Tigers are 32-5 entering Saturday’s Final Four matchup against Florida. Auburn went 15-3 during the regular season in conference play, wrapping up the SEC regular season title before the home stretch even began.
Pearl is the first Auburn coach to earn this award since Cliff Ellis in 1999. That season, Ellis led Auburn to a No. 1 seed for the first time in program history. The Tigers ended up bowing out in the Sweet 16.
Pitino has proven to be a remarkable hire for St. John’s. The Red Storm earned a No. 2 seed this season and had their best year in the Big East, by winning percentage, since 1984-85. St. John’s was upset by Arkansas in the Round of 32, but it was still a successful season for a St. John’s program that had made the NCAA Tournament just 3 times in the prior 20 years.
Louisville coach Pat Kelsey, Duke coach Jon Scheyer, Missouri coach Dennis Gates and Michigan State coach Tom Izzo were amongst the other coaches who received votes.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
