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College Basketball’s Head Coach of the Year Announced After Final Four

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sami Haider | Last updated Apr 5, 2026 12:02 PM ET

The Arizona Wildcats just finished one of their strongest seasons ever. Under Coach Tommy Lloyd, the team set a school record with a 23–0 start, swept the Big 12 regular season and tournament titles, and never dropped out of the AP top five in any week of the regular season.

However, their unprecedented run ended with a 36–3 record after losing to the Michigan Wolverines 91–73 in the March Madness Final Four. But Lloyd got his flowers by penning his name as the most successful coach of this season.

Despite the semifinal exit, Lloyd was named the 2026 Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year on Sunday in Indianapolis. And it is worth mentioning that he became the first head coach in Arizona history to win this specific honor.

In five seasons at Arizona, Lloyd has posted a record of 148 wins, which is officially the most by any head coach in NCAA Division I history through their first five seasons.

His award validates the numbers as the Wildcats finished the season 36–3 and ranked consistently in the top five of both offensive and defensive efficiency metrics.

TOMMY LLOYD NAMED COACH OF THE YEAR

After leading Arizona to a 36-3 season and its first Final Four appearance since 2001, Lloyd takes Naismith Men's College Coach of the Year honors. pic.twitter.com/jU0RpZD26Y
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 5, 2026

The honor, however, matches Lloyd’s long-term commitment to Arizona. According to ESPN, his new five-year deal makes him one of the five highest-paid coaches in college basketball.

It starts at nearly $7.2 million for the 2026-27 season and averages $7.5 million through 2031. It ended a week of speculation during the Final Four that he might leave to fill the head coaching vacancy at the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Despite a significant offer from UNC, Lloyd announced his stay during a Final Four press conference in Indianapolis, confirming he turned down North Carolina’s offer to stay in Tucson.

On Friday, he said, “You guys know what it means to me, and when I say it's a special place, that always comes from the bottom of my heart. I made a decision that my Michael Jordan is Steve Kerr, and I'm proud to be an Arizona Wildcat.”

With the season over, he is shifting his focus to roster management. He described his goal as a "holistic approach," saying he wants Arizona basketball to "become a locomotive where everything surrounding it is pushing it forward."

With his long-term contract secured and a Final Four appearance under his belt, Lloyd has made it clear that the goal is now a National Championship.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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