She is one of 10 coaches named to the semifinal watchlist for the award.
ATLANTA – Nearly a week after being named the 11th head coach in Florida women’s basketball program history, Kelly Rae Finley has been named a semifinalist for the Naismith Coach of the Year Award, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Tuesday.
In addition to Finley, nine other coaches were named semifinalists, including: Jennie Baranczyk (Oklahoma), Kim Barnes-Arico (Michigan), Nicki Collen (Baylor), Jeff Judkins (BYU), Wes Moore (NC State), Kim Mulkey (LSU), Dawn Staley (South Carolina), Tara VanDeer (Stanford) and Jeff Walz (Louisville). The winner will be announced on March 30.
The Gators have exceeded expectations during Finley’s first season at the helm, winning 20 games for the first time since the 2015-16 season and finishing fifth in the Southeastern Conference after being picked 11th in the SEC preseason poll in the fall. As Selection Sunday approaches, it is likely that the Gators will find themselves in the field of 68 for the first time since 2015-16.
During the season, Florida defeated five ranked opponents for the first time since the 2005-06 season, including five nationally ranked opponent in the SEC for the first time since 2004. A victory of note, Florida earned their largest margin of victory over a top-10 team when they defeated No. 7 Tennessee, 84-59, handing the Lady Vols their worst loss against an unranked squad since the AP Poll debuted in 1976.
Under her continued tutelage, graduate Kiara Smith earned First Team All-SEC honors after leading the team this season with 14.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.4 steals per game. In SEC play, the District Heights, Md., native averaged 17.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.3 steals per game, helping her to two SEC Player of the Week honors during the year.
Freshman Alberte Rimdal also picked up SEC postseason honors, being named to the SEC All-Freshman Team. Rimdal’s placement on the SEC All-Freshman team marked the third-consecutive year that the Gators have placed an athlete on the team. The Koge, Denmark native put together a strong freshman campaign, averaging 4.7 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. During SEC play, the freshman averaged 5.3 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.1 made three-pointers per game.
The Orange & Blue will find out their fate regarding the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 13 at 8 p.m. ET with the NCAA Selection Show.
– #GoGators –
