INDIANAPOLIS -- Chris Holtmann, Butler men’s basketball coach, was named the winner of the 2017 Coach John McLendon Award by CollegeInsider.com.
The award is presented each year to the top head coach in collegiate basketball.
Holtmann led the Butler Bulldogs to a second-place finish after being predicted to finish in sixth place in the Big East preseason poll.
During his three seasons as head coach, the Bulldogs played in the NCAA tournament each year and won at least one game. In March, Butler made it to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2011.
8.8 million people watched Butler's games during the 2017 NCAA Tournament, including 6.4M for the CBS broadcast of the Sweet 16 vs UNC pic.twitter.com/Kt4Usf1WDw
— Butler Basketball (@ButlerMBB) March 28, 2017
“Chris Holtmann is one of the five best coaches in all of college basketball,” said CollegeInsider.com’s Angela Lento. “He isn’t a household name but he should be. His name should come up more in conversations about great X and O guys.”
In early April, Holtmann was one of 11 coaches on the list to become AP Coach of the Year.
65 national media members voted for the AP Coach of the Year. Only 11 coaches received votes. Chris Holtmann was on the list. pic.twitter.com/v7T4PFrnCt
— Butler Basketball (@ButlerMBB) March 31, 2017
He was also named a finalist for the Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year Award and the 2017 Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award.
Chris Holtmann has been named one of 20 finalists for the Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year Award. pic.twitter.com/HeuqS0BP83
— Butler Basketball (@ButlerMBB) March 27, 2017
The finalists for the Skip Prosser Man of the Year... https://t.co/7igNquoKiK pic.twitter.com/Vq4XBdpRIK
— Angela Lento (@collegeinsider) March 29, 2017
