BOSTON – After guiding the University of South Alabama men's basketball program to a 17-11 overall record and an eight-game win streak in Sun Belt Conference play, Richie Riley has been named a finalist for the Ben Jobe Award.
It's the second year in a row that Riley has been in consideration for the honor, which is presented annually to the top Division I minority coach. The recipient of the 2021 award will be announced on April 1.
After starting 2-5 in league play, Riley led South to victories in each of its next eight contests highlighted by a three-point win at eventual East Division champion Georgia State and back-to-back defeats of Appalachian State — who would go on to claim the conference tournament title — on the road.