Texas Tech coach Chris Beard was announced as a finalist for the 2019 Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year Award by the Atlanta Tipoff Club on Wednesday along with Rick Barnes (Tennessee), Tony Bennett (Virginia) and Kelvin Sampson (Houston).
Beard has led the Red Raiders to a 26-6 overall record this season and to the program’s first-ever Big 12 Conference regular-season championship in his third year as the team’s head coach. Tech is a No. 3 seed in the West Region and will open the NCAA Tournament at 12:30 p.m. on Friday against Northern Kentucky in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Under Beard, the Red Raiders are making their second straight trip to the national tournament as a third seed. In three seasons, Beard has guided the program to a 71-30 record that included going 14-4 in conference play to earn him Big 12 Coach of the Year for the second straight season.
Fans will be able to support their favorite finalist by visiting naismithtrophy.com/vote between March 22-April 3 to cast their ballot, and the fan vote will account for five percent of the overall final vote. Fans may also vote by visiting the @MarchMadness Twitter page on March 23 and March 26, to vote for their favorite men’s coach of the four. Then, on April 7, 2019, the 2019 Werner Ladder Naismith Trophy for Men’s College Coach of the Year will be awarded at the Naismith Awards Brunch presented by Mortenson, during the Final Four in Minneapolis.
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