KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Basketball Coaches on Thursday announced the recipients of the 2023 NABC Metropolitan Award, Hillyard Golden Anniversary Award, Cliff Wells Appreciation Award, Social Impact Award and International Lifetime Achievement Award.
Championship-winning coach Tubby Smith is the recipient of the 2023 NABC Metropolitan Award, while longtime Rollins coach Tom Klusman has been selected as the 2023 NABC Hillyard Golden Anniversary Award winner. Former NCAA coordinator of officials J.D. Collins will be presented with the 2023 NABC Cliff Wells Appreciation Award, and the 2023 NABC Social Impact Award will go to Harvard Business School professor Dr. James I. Cash.
The Metropolitan, Cliff Wells and Golden Anniversary awards recognize coaches and administrators who have made significant impacts on the game of basketball and the NABC, while the Social Impact Award honors individuals who champion the cause of diversity, equity and inclusion.
Additionally, the NABC International Committee will present its International Lifetime Achievement Award to former coach and current CBS Sports analyst Pete Gillen.
All five awards will be handed out during the 2023 NABC Convention in Houston.
NABC Metropolitan Award – Tubby Smith, former Division I coach
Tubby Smith won 642 games in 31 seasons across seven programs – ranking him among the top 50 winningest coaches in Division I history. Smith took five different schools to the NCAA Tournament, and in 1998, he led Kentucky to a 35-4 record and a national title. He earned numerous conference and national coaching honors throughout his career, including being named the 2003 NABC Division I Coach of the Year. Smith retired in 2022 after spending his final four seasons at his alma mater High Point.
NABC Hillyard Golden Anniversary Award – Tom Klusman, Rollins head coach
Tom Klusman was named the head coach at Rollins in 1980 at just 26 years old, and in the 43 seasons since has consistently maintained the school’s status as one of Division II’s elite programs. Klusman completed the 2022-23 season with 746 career victories – the most of any active Division II coach. He is also one of just 10 coaches in Division II history to eclipse 700 career wins. Klusman has led Rollins to NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearances in 2004 and 2017.
NABC Cliff Wells Appreciation Award – J.D. Collins, former NCAA coordinator of officiating
J.D. Collins spent seven years as the NCAA’s coordinator of men’s basketball officiating after two decades as a college basketball official. In his role at the NCAA, Collins provided national leadership for men’s basketball officials, regional advisors, conferences coordinators and coaches before retiring in 2022. During his time as a game official, Collins officiated two Final Fours, one Elite Eight and five Sweet 16s. He also held prior positions as the coordinator of officiating for the Mid-American Conference and the Summit League.
NABC Social Impact Award – Dr. James I. Cash, Harvard Business School professor and senior associate dean
Dr. James I. Cash was the first Black student-athlete at TCU and the first Black basketball player in the Southwest Conference. Cash went on to earn master’s and doctorate degrees from Purdue, and in 1976, he joined the Harvard Business School faculty – ultimately becoming the first Black faculty member to earn tenure. In additional to his roles at Harvard and on numerous corporate and non-profit boards, Cash runs personal development programs for executives and board members of Global 500 organizations through his company The Cash Catalyst LLC.
NABC International Committee Lifetime Achievement Award – Pete Gillen, CBS Sports analyst
Pete Gillen won 392 games during his career as the head coach at Xavier, Providence and Virginia. His teams collectively reached nine NCAA Tournaments, including a run to the Elite Eight in 1997 with Providence and the Sweet 16 in 1990 with Xavier. Internationally, Gillen served as a USA National Team assistant coach under Don Nelson in the 1994 FIBA World Championships, where the Americans captured the gold medal.
