Frank Martin was awarded the 2017 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year award after leading his South Carolina team to a 26-11 record and the program’s first ever Final Four berth.
Martin was one of 20 coaches who were considered as finalists for the award, including Roy Williams and Mark Few, both of whose teams played in the National Championship game Monday night. This is the first time that Martin has received this award in his coaching career.
The Gamecocks received their first NCAA Tournament slot since 2004 this season, as well as their first tournament win since 1973. The Gamecocks also advanced to the Sweet 16, Elite Eight and Final Four for the first time in program history. This was also Martin's first trip to the Final Four, after previously getting as far as the Elite Eight as the head coach for Kansas State in 2010.
South Carolina finished the season ranked sixth in the USA Today Coaches Poll’s final college basketball rankings after losing to Gonzaga 77-73 in the Final Four.