THE JOE B. HALL AWARD

2016 Joe B. Hall Award

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April 4, 2016

2016 JOE B. HALL AWARD

HOUSTON, TX  -- Hawaii's Eran Ganot is the recipient of the 2016 Joe B. Hall, which is presented annually to the top first-year coach in division I.
 
Ganot led Hawaii to an historic season, winning both the Big West regular season and tournament titles and recording the most wins in school history (28). 

Ganot led the Rainbow Warriors to their fist NCAA appearance since 2002 and their first-round win over California was the program to its' first-ever NCAA Tournament victory.

The award is named in the honor of Joe B. Hall who was given the task of following the legendary Adolph Rupp. In his first season at the University of Kentucky, Hall finished 20-8, won the SEC and advanced to the NCAA Regional Finals.
 
From 1972 to 1985 Hall would win two-thirds of his games (297-100), receive four SEC Coach of the Year honors and win a National Championship (1978). Along with the 1978 title, Hall also guided Kentucky to a runner-up finish to UCLA in the 1975 NCAA tournament, a Final Four appearance in the 1984 NCAA Tournament and an NIT championship in 1976. He won 8 Southeastern Conference regular season championships and one Southeastern Conference tournament championship (1984).
 
Hall is one of only three men to win an NCAA championship as a player (1949- Kentucky) and coach (1978- Kentucky). The only others to achieve this feat are Bob Knight and Dean Smith.

2016 JOE B. HALL AWARD FINALISTS

Chris Beard, Little Rock
Linc Darner, Green Bay
Nathan Davis, Bucknell
Steve Forbes, ETSU
Eran Ganot, Hawaii
Eric Konkol, Louisiana Tech
Matt McCall, Chattanooga
Matt McMahon, Murray State
Nate Oats, Buffalo
Montez Robinson, Alcorn State
 

The Joe B. Hall award is presented annually to the top first-time head coach in Division I college basketball. 
 
A longtime Kentucky assistant, Joe B. Hall was given the task of following the legendary Adolph Rupp at the school. In his first season, Hall finished 20-8, won the SEC and advanced to the NCAA Regional Finals.
 
Hall coached the Wildcats from 1972 to 1985. He won two-thirds of his games (297-100), received four SEC Coach of the Year honors and won a National Championship in 1978. He also steered the program to two other Final Fours, won eight Southeastern Conference regular season championships and one Southeastern Conference tournament championship (1984). 
 
The recipient of the 2023-24 award will be announced in April, in Phoenix, AZ site of the men's NCAA Basketball Championship.

The Joe B. Hall award is presented annually to first-year head coach in division I college basketball, as voted on by the award committee. Eligible coaches must be in the first season as a head at the division I level.

The 10-member voting committee consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of collegeinsider.com.

The award is presented annually at the site of the men's Division I NCAA basketball championship. 

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