HOUSTON (AP) — Mike Brey is The Associated Press’ coach of the year after guiding Notre Dame to second place in the Big East and a No. 5 ranking in the final poll.
The Fighting Irish had a 27-7 record, their second-most wins in a season. Their 14-4 mark in the Big East tied their record for conference victories. Notre Dame was a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament.
Brey received the award Friday. He drew 28 votes from the 65-member national media panel that selects the weekly Top 25. Steve Fisher of San Diego State was second with 14 votes. Voting was done before the NCAA tournament.
Brey is the first Notre Dame coach to win the award. He is the second straight Big East coach to get it following Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim last year.
