NCAA.com Predicts NC State’s Kevin Keatts to win National Coach of the Year Award

Joe Boozell of NCAA.com broke down “33 fearless predictions for the remainder of the college basketball season” last week, and 1 of those 33 predictions was NC State head coach Kevin Keatts winning the Coach of the Year Award. Only two Wolfpack coaches have won the National Coach of the Year Award.

You may have heard of them: Norm Sloan & Jim Valvano.

Here’s what Boozell had to say about Keatts:

6. Kevin Keatts wins Coach of the Year honors

North Carolina State is 12-1 in Keatts’ second year. The Wolfpack isn’t going to keep up that kind of win percentage in the ACC, but if it can finish above .500 in the league, they’ll earn a solid NCAA tournament seed. And the Wolfpack doesn’t have a star player who stands out. (NCAA)

The last time a NC State head coach won the ACC Coach of the Year Award was back in 2004, when Herb Sendek took home the hardware. Five Wolfpack coaches have won the ACC Coach of the Year Award.

NC State ACC Coach of the Year Winners

1954 – Everett Case
1955 – Everett Case
1958 – Everett Case
1965 – Press Maravich
1970 – Norm Sloan
1973 – Norm Sloan
1974 – Norm Sloan
1989 – Jim Valvano
2004 – Herb Sendek

NC State National Coach of the Year Winners

1973 – Norm Sloan (Basketball
Weekly)
1974 – Norm Sloan (AP, USBWA)
1983 – Jim Valvano (Eastern
Basketball, Spalding,
Hawkeye Rebounders
Club, Medalist Sports
Industries)