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John Calipari

It is the second-straight year Calipari is a finalist for the Iba Award. Last week, freshman Tyreke Evans was selected as a finalist for the USBWA’s National Player of the Year honor, which is the Oscar Robertson Trophy.

Calipari has guided the Tigers to a 26-3 overall record and a 14-0 mark in C-USA play. Memphis jumped into the top five in both national polls in recent weeks, marking the fourth-straight season the Tigers achieved a top-five national ranking. Calipari also directed the Tigers to a fourth-straight C-USA regular season title. It is the first time in the program's history that Memphis has claimed four-consecutive regular season crowns.

Earlier this season, Calipari became Memphis’ all-time winningest coach, moving past Tiger legend Larry Finch. Calipari now has a record of 245-68 in his ninth season at Memphis. With the Tigers’ fifth win in 2008-09, Calipari jumped into the No. 2 spot for most victories by a head coach in his first 17 years at the Division I level. Only Roy Williams has more wins by a head coach at the NCAA Division I level in the first 17 years than Calipari.

Last year, Calipari was named the 2007-08 Naismith National Coach of the Year for the second time in his career. Calipari and Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski are the only two-time recipients of the Naismith National Coach of the Year honor.

In addition to Calipari, the coaches nominated for the Iba Award are: Mike Anderson (Missouri), Jeff Capel (Oklahoma), Jamie Dixon (Pittsburgh), Mike Montgomery (California), Stew Morrill (Utah State), Matt Painter (Purdue), Oliver Purnell (Clemson), Bill Self (Kansas) and Brad Stevens (Butler).

The Henry Iba Award has been presented since 1959. It is named for the legendary Oklahoma State coach.