Fred Hoiberg of Nebraska was named The Associated Press men's basketball coach of the year after leading the Cornhuskers to a 28-win season, their first NCAA Tournament victory in a decade and a Sweet 16 run. Hoiberg secured 17 votes from a 61-person panel, narrowly surpassing Duke's Jon Scheyer (13 votes) and Arizona's Tommy Lloyd (11 votes).

Hoiberg's success stemmed from revitalizing Nebraska's program, which had posted a 7-45 record in his first two seasons. The team set program records with 26 regular-season wins and 15 Big Ten Conference victories, culminating in a historic March Madness win over Troy. Senior guard Sam Hoiberg, Fred's son, and transfers like Iowa's Pryce Sandfort and Dutch big man Rienk Mast fueled an exciting, defense-oriented style that reignited fan enthusiasm.

The award follows Nebraska's breakthrough 2024 season, where the program reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014. Hoiberg's personal ties to Lincoln—his maternal grandfather Jerry Bush coached Nebraska from 1953-63, and his father graduated from the school—add emotional weight to his achievement. His return to Nebraska after a 10-year NBA career marked a transformative chapter for the program.

Scheyer, the runner-up, guided Duke to a No. 1 ranking and Final Four appearance, while Lloyd led Arizona to its first Final Four since 2001. Despite Nebraska's Sweet 16 exit to Iowa, Hoiberg emphasized the team's progress: "These guys deserve a lot of credit for what they've done for Nebraska basketball."