Judkins named semifinalist for Naismith Coach of the Year

ATLANTA – BYU head women's basketball coach Jeff Judkins was named one of 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year this week by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. 

Judkins has led the Cougars to a 26-3 overall record, including a 15-1 mark in the West Coast Conference to win the regular-season crown for the second time. 

BYU set a program record with 25 wins in the regular season and also achieved a No. 15 ranking in the Associated Press Top 25–the highest mark in school history.

Judkins also coached the WCC Player of the Year for the second year in a row with sophomore guard Shaylee Gonzales, a finalist for the Becky Hammon Award. Gonzales, Paisley Harding and Lauren Gustin also garnered first-team All-WCC honors under Judkins this year.

A three-time WCC Coach of the Year after earning this year's award, Judkins has a career record of 456-203 over 21 seasons as BYU's head coach–more wins than any BYU basketball coach in history.

He owns six conference coach of the year awards and has led the Cougars to the NCAA Tournament 10 times.

BYU is expected to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament when the field is announced on Sunday, March 13. 

2022 Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year Semifinalists
Jennie Baranczyk, Oklahoma
Kim Barnes-Arico, Michigan
Nicki Collen, Baylor
Kelly Rae Finley, Florida
Jeff Judkins, BYU
Wes Moore, NC State
Kim Mulkey, LSU
Dawn Staley, South Carolina
Tara VanDerveer, Stanford
Jeff Walz, Louisville