O’Brien named NABC District 10 Coach of the Year – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/19/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 19, 2001
COLUMBUS, Ohio–The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) announced Ohio State head men’s basketball coach Jim O’Brien has been selected the District 10 NABC Coach of the Year. O’Brien was the NABC District 10 and National Co-Coach of the Year in 1999.
The NABC/Chevrolet Division I District Coach of the Year awards, recognize those coaches who have shown exemplary skill in teaching and guiding their student-athletes to meet their fullest potential. The NABC All-District coaches are now eligible to be named the 2000-01 Coach of the Year at the NABC/Verizon College Basketball Awards Show April 1.
O’Brien led the Buckeyes (20-11) to its third-consecutive 20-win season and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2000-01. The Buckeyes did not return a double-digit scorer from 1999-00 yet still managed a third-place finish in the Big Ten and a No. 5 seed in the 2001 NCAA Tournament.
Following the third-place finish in the Big Ten with an 11-5 record, O’Brien was voted the Big Ten Coach of the Year for the second time in three seasons by the league media. The Buckeyes were 4-5 in the Big Ten before winning seven-consecutive conference games to finish the season, including five on the road.
