Tommy Lloyd has emerged as a standout contender for the 2026 Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year Award. Joining him in this prestigious lineup are Fred Hoiberg from Nebraska, Dusty May from Michigan, and Jon Scheyer from Duke. While Nebraska's journey ended with a tough loss to Iowa in the NCAA Tournament, the other teams are still in the hunt.
Duke is gearing up to face St. John's in the NCAA Tournament East Regional, while Michigan is set to clash with Alabama in the Midwest Regional in Chicago. Arizona, under Lloyd's leadership, stormed into the NCAA Tournament West Regional Final with an impressive 109-88 victory over Arkansas.
Lloyd has guided Arizona to a remarkable 34-3 record as they prepare to face Purdue in the West Regional Final on Saturday. The Wildcats are on the cusp of matching their program record set in 1988, a year that marked their inaugural Final Four appearance. Arizona's dominance this season is underscored by their sweep of the Big XII regular season and tournament titles.
Fred Hoiberg has also made waves by steering Nebraska to its most successful season ever. Starting with a 20-game winning streak, the team set a program record with 28 victories, clinched their first NCAA Tournament win, and advanced to the Regional Semifinals for the first time.
Dusty May has Michigan on the brink of history, just one win away from setting a new program record with 34 victories. The Wolverines, who had a memorable run in 2017-18, are looking to surpass their past achievements as they face Alabama in the Midwest Regional Semifinal.
Jon Scheyer, a year behind Lloyd, is on track to surpass the record for most wins by a head coach in their first five seasons. With a 123-24 record over four seasons at Duke, Scheyer's team boasts a 34-2 record this season as they prepare for their showdown against St. John's.
Each of these coaches has a compelling case for the Coach of the Year honor. Nebraska, unranked in the preseason AP Top 25, defied expectations, while Duke, Michigan, and Arizona were all positioned within the top 15.
Fans have the opportunity to cast their votes for various Naismith awards through April 11. As the tournament progresses, Lloyd, May, and Scheyer have the chance to further bolster their impressive season records. Arizona's upcoming battle with Purdue could be a defining moment, while Duke and Michigan aim to advance to their respective regional finals with victories on Friday night.