Wichita State’s Gregg Marshall wins AP Coach of the Year

Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports

After sitting on the results since Selection Sunday, the Associated Press yesterday announced that Wichita State‘s Gregg Marshall has been named the 2014 AP coach of the year.

Marshall led the Shockers to the NCAA Tournament undefeated, a feat that hadn’t been accomplished in 33 years. They entered as a one seed, with a record of 34-0, and thanks to a second round thumping of Cal Poly , became the first team in NCAA history to win its first 35 games. The undefeated streak and hopes at an undefeated national title were dashed by the upstart Kentucky Wildcats, who shocked the world with a thrilling 78-86 win in the third round.

Marshall’s Shockers won the Missouri Valley Conference regular season and tournament titles as they finished second in the final AP poll.

Shocker Nation was hoping for a second straight run to the Final Four but the Wildcats had other ideas and have since reached the Final Four themselves. Regardless, they’re proud of their head coaches latest accomplishment.

He received 44 of the 65 votes to win the award, followed by Virginia’s Tony Bennett (13 votes), Florida’s Billy Donovan (6), and John Beilein of Michigan and SMU’s Larry Brown, who had one vote apiece.

In his seven season on the Shockers’ bench, Marshall is 174-71, including an 84-42 mark in MVC play.