Amaker Named Finalist For Jobe Award
Pictured: Harvard's student section shows its appreciated for coach Amaker.
BOSTON, Mass. – Harvard head men’s basketball coach Tommy Amaker has been named a finalist for the inaugural Ben Jobe Award. The award, administered by CollegeInsider.com, will be presented annually to the top minority coach in Division I college basketball.
As of Monday, the elite group of fifteen coaches has fashioned an average record of 21-9 this season. Joining Amaker on the finalists list are: Mike Anderson (Missouri), Tevester Anderson (Jackson State), Tony Barbee (UTEP), Todd Bozeman (Morgan State), Ed Cooley (Fairfield), Mike Davis (UAB), Stan Heath (South Florida), Ron Hunter (IUPUI), Sydney Johnson (Princeton), Johnny Jones (North Texas), Marvin Menzies (New Mexico State), Shaka Smart (VCU), John Thompson III (Georgetown) and Cliff Warren (Jacksonville).
Under Amaker, Harvard has set numerous program records including wins (21), non-conference wins (11), home wins (11) and road/neutral wins (10) and is awaiting word on a postseason tournament following a 21-7 overall record and a 10-4 mark in Ivy play.
The award is named for coaching legend Ben Jobe, who spent the majority of his career at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, won 524 games in 31 years. He is best known for his accomplishments at Southern University, where he took the program to four NCAA Tournament appearances and one NIT berth.
A 30-member selection committee will vote this month and the winner of the inaugural Ben Jobe Award will be announced at the Final Four in Indianapolis.
2010 BEN JOBE AWARD FINALISTS
Tommy
Amaker
Harvard
Mike
Anderson
Missouri
Tevester Anderson Jackson
State
Tony
Barbee
UTEP
Todd
Bozeman
Morgan State
Ed
Cooley
Fairfield
Mike
Davis
UAB
Stan
Heath
South Florida
Ron
Hunter
IUPUI
Sydney
Johnson
Princeton
Johnny
Jones
North Texas
Marvin
Menzies
New Mexico State
Shaka
Smart
VCU
John Thompson III Georgetown
Cliff
Warren
Jacksonville
