Mulkey-Robertson Finalist for Coach of the Year
March 3, 2005 ATLANTA - Twenty of the country's top collegiate women's basketball coaches were named as finalists for the Naismith Award, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today and Baylor's Kim Mulkey-Robertson is one of the finalists. The Naismith Award is the most prestigious national award presented annually to the men's and women's college basketball coaches of the year. The top 20 list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country. The board based its criteria on coaching performance this season. "Each of our finalists is more than deserving of this year's Naismith Award," said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Tipoff Club president. "These coaches are the best in the business and their contributions have left a lasting impact on their players, programs and the sport of basketball."
The 20 finalists will be on the ballot in March when the Board of Selectors votes to select this year's top collegiate coach in the nation. The winner will be recognized at the Naismith Awards Banquet on April 8 in Atlanta. Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson owns a 121-38 head coaching record which equates to a .761 winning percentage in her fifth season along the Lady Bear sideline. She has produced 20-win seasons in each of her five years as a head coach and has taken the Lady Bears to postseason competition every season, three times to the NCAA Tournament and to the 2003 WNIT finals. In 2004, the Lady Bears advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time in school history and this season she guided the team to its first-ever Big 12 Conference championship. Mulkey-Robertson gained her 100th victory with a 66-49 win at Mississippi State on Nov. 23. She achieved the milestone in four seasons and three games (136 games). Baylor year-by-year under Mulkey-Robertson: 2000-01 - 21-9 - NCAA, lost in first round (Arkansas) 2001-02 - 27-6 - NCAA, lost in second round (Drake) 2002-03 - 24-11 - WNIT, lost in finals (Auburn) 2003-04 - 26-9 - NCAA, lost in Sweet 16 (Tennessee) 2004-05 - 23-3 - Highest preseason ranking in school history (No. 8); highest ranking in program history (No. 2); first Big 12 Conference championship. Mulkey-Robertson was named Baylor's fourth head coach on April 4, 2000. She was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame that same year. She was inducted into the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame in June of 2003. Since taking over the Lady Bear program five years ago, Mulkey-Robertson has posted the best win total among Big 12 programs. The candidates for the Naismith Award, listed in alphabetical order, are as follows: |
