When I sat down to write this column, I was going to lead (or “lede” for my fellow press box jockeys) with: “Go ahead and give Seth Greenberg the Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year Award. There isn’t another coach in the ACC that deserves it more.”
But, as I started doing my research, I discovered that there are really three very worthy candidates for the award … if the season were to end today.
The three coaches are Virginia Tech’s Greenberg, miami’s Frank Haith, and wake forest’s Dino Gaudio. Each of these men has taken his team to heights not thought possible before the 2007-08 season tipped off.
The Hokies, hurricanes, and demon deacons were picked to finish 10th, 11th and 12th, respectively, in the ACC prior to the season. As of today, Virginia Tech (8-6, 17-11) is alone in 4th place, while the deacs (6-6, 16-9) are in sixth, and the canes (6-7, 19-6) are in seventh. Tech and wake have a chance to finish 10-6 if they win out, but it will be a more difficult road for the deacons, who finish the season with maryland at home (2/28), then georgia tech (3/1) and Virginia Tech (3/4) on the road, before returning home to close out the season against in-state rival nc state (3/8). miami has three games left: the next two at home against virginia (3/1) and boston college (3/5), and then on the road against florida state (3/8).
