The NABC Coach of the Year is an award given annually by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) to recognize the top head coach in men's college basketball across the four largest college athletic associations in the United States. The award has been given since the 1958âÂÂ59 season to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I coaches, since 1961âÂÂ62 to Division II, and since 1975âÂÂ76 to Division III coaches. At the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) level it has been awarded since 1992âÂÂ93, while the two-year schools' coaches have been honored since 1983âÂÂ84.
Through the 2024âÂÂ25 college basketball season, there have been 35 multiple-time winners spanning the four associations. Larry Gipson and Ray Harper are the only repeat winners who were honored at multiple association levels. Gipson won in 1982âÂÂ83 at the helm of two-year school Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, and again in 2002âÂÂ03 while leading Division II's Northeastern State. Harper won in 1998âÂÂ99 and 2000âÂÂ01 at the NCAA Division II level while also earning the award in 2007âÂÂ08 in the NAIA.
Two coaches are tied for the most all-time awards, with five apiece: John Wooden of UCLA (Division I) and Ben McCollum of Northwest Missouri State (Division II). Close behind them with four awards is Bo Ryan of WisconsinâÂÂPlatteville (Division III).
In 2008âÂÂ09, the NABC began presenting separate awards for coaches of the year in NAIA Divisions I and II. In 2020âÂÂ21, the NAIA removed its divisional classifications.