The Kay Yow National Coach of the Year Award is an award given annually to the women's college basketball head coach in
NCAADivision I competition who displays great character both on and off the court. The award was established in 2010 and is named for legendary women's head coach
Kay Yow, who coached at
NC State from 1975 to 2009 before succumbing to stage 4
breast cancer. Yow was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987 but still continued to coach until the illness forced her to take a medical leave of absence in early 2009. Yow accumulated over 700 wins as a head coach, and also led the United States women's basketball team to an
Olympic gold medal in
1988.[1]
Selection
The award is presented to the coach who has exhibited great personal character both as a coach and as a person. A committee of 26 members, ranging from women's basketball analysts, former and current head coaches, and Yow's three siblings (sisters
Deborah and Susan, and brother Ronnie), chooses the winner among a field of finalists.[2]
Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award – an annual award given to an NCAA Division I men's basketball coach who exhibits moral character off the court; the award is also presented by CollegeInsider.com