NC Sports clients dominate conference coach of the year list

Conference call: A look at the coaches of the year

November 11, 2007

By BLAIR KERKHOFF

Big 12
•Coach of the year: Mark Mangino, Kansas. The Jayhawks haven’t had a season like this since the 19th century. With a home victory over Iowa State on Saturday they’ll do no worse than tie for first in the division, and they’ve never been higher than fourth place in 11 previous Big 12 seasons. Mangino is a leading candidate for national coach of the year.

Atlantic Coast
•Coach of the year: Al Groh, Virginia. After the Cavaliers fell at Wyoming opening the season, it got ugly for Groh. Since then, Virginia has won eight of nine and set up the Nov. 24 showdown against Virginia Tech to determine the league’s Coastal Conference champion.

Conference USA
•Coach of the year: Todd Graham, Tulsa. The Golden Hurricanes returned only 10 starters in Graham’s first year, but they became the division and league favorite Saturday by throttling Houston 56-7.