KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The NABC today announced the recipients of the 2024 NABC Metropolitan Award, NABC Hillyard Golden Anniversary Award, NABC Cliff Wells Appreciation Award, and NABC International Lifetime Achievement Award. ESPN college basketball commentator and former coach Dick Vitale is the recipient of the 2024 NABC Metropolitan Award, Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton has been selected as the 2024 NABC Hillyard Golden Anniversary Award winner, and media outlet D3hoops.com will be presented with the 2024 NABC Cliff Wells Appreciation Award.
The Metropolitan Award and Cliff Wells Appreciation Award recognize coaches, administrators and contributors who have made significant impacts on the game of basketball and the NABC, while the Golden Anniversary Award honors coaches who have devoted at least 50 years of service to the sport. Additionally, the NABC International Committee will present its Lifetime Achievement Award to former Davidson coach Bob McKillop. The honor recognizes coaches who have contributed to growing the game of basketball both domestically and abroad.
NABC Metropolitan Award – Dick Vitale, ESPN commentator and former coach
Arguably no individual is more synonymous with the growth of college basketball’s popularity than Dick Vitale. Since 1979, Vitale has been a top college basketball game analyst and ambassador for ESPN – turning signature lines such as “awesome baby!” and “diaper dandy” into household phrases. Inspired by the late Jim Valvano, Vitale has also been driving force in raising funds and awareness for cancer research – a passion that has continued during his own recent cancer battles. Prior to his broadcasting career, Vitale held various coaching roles at the NBA, college, and high school levels.
NABC Hillyard Golden Anniversary Award – Leonard Hamilton, Florida State head coach
Since starting his coaching career as an assistant at Austin Peay in 1971, Leonard Hamilton has achieved success at every stop. One of just 17 active Division I coaches to have eclipsed the 600-win mark, Hamilton led Oklahoma State to a pair of NIT berths, took Miami to three NCAA Tournaments, and has reached March Madness eight times during his run at Florida State. He is the winningest coach in Florida State history, and has been named the ACC Coach of the Year three times. Hamilton also spent a season as head coach of the NBA’s Washington Wizards between his tenures at Miami and Florida State.
NABC Cliff Wells Appreciation Award – D3hoops.com
For nearly three decades, the digital media outlet D3hoops.com has provided unrivaled coverage of NCAA Division III basketball, elevating the national visibility of small college athletes and coaches across the country. Through commentary, rankings, awards, podcasts, live game broadcasts and other content, D3hoops.com has firmly established itself as the predominant resource for followers of Division III basketball. The outlet – managed by the team of Pat Coleman, Gordon Mann, and Dave McHugh – has also collaborated with the NABC on various enhancements to the annual NABC-Reese’s Division III All-Star Game.
NABC International Lifetime Achievement Award – Bob McKillop, former Davidson head coach
In 33 years as the head coach at Davidson, Bob McKillop led the program to 23 conference championships, 10 NCAA Tournament appearances, and 17 seasons of 20 or more wins. The 2008 NABC Division I Coach of the Year finished his career with 634 victories at the Division I level. McKillop coached players from 24 different countries during his tenure at Davidson, and served as the head coach of Team USA at the 2013 World University Games.
