McKay Named Finalist for Ben Jobe Award and to ABIS Black College Coaches Watch List

Liberty Men’s Basketball Head Coach Ritchie McKay has been named a finalist for the 2022-23 Ben Jobe National Coach of the Year. Additionally, McKay has been tabbed to the Advancement of Blacks in Sports (ABIS) Men’s Basketball Black College Coaches Watch List.

The Ben Jobe Award is presented annually to the top Division I minority coach. McKay is one of 25 finalists for the prestigious award. Some other coaches who are finalists include: Houston’s Kelvin Sampson, Marquette’s Shaka Smart, Providence’s Ed Colley, Texas’ Rodney Terry and Indiana’s Mike Woodson.

The ABIS watch list includes the NCAA’s top Black men’s and women’s head and assistant coaches from across the country. McKay is one of 16 Division I men’s basketball head coaches on the listing. Some other coaches on the watch list include Harvard’s Tommy Amaker, Tulane’s Ron Hunter and Kennesaw State’s Amir Abdur-Rahim.

McKay has led the Flames to a 26-8 record this season, including a 15-3 ASUN mark and a share of the ASUN regular season title. Over the last five years, McKay has guided Liberty to a 130-36 record and a 65-14 ASUN regular season mark. The Flames’ 130 victories are the fourth most in the country during that span.

Liberty has captured three ASUN Championship titles, four ASUN regular season ccrowns and one ASUN Division title since joining the conference prior to the 2018-19 campaign.

McKay and the Flames are one of 24 teams in the country this year with 26 or more victories. Liberty has posted seven straight 20-win seasons under McKay’s direction.

The Flames are currently ranked No. 44 in the NCAA Men’s Basketball NET Rankings.

Main Photo at Top of Story: Ritchie McKay