ND Basketball Coach Niele Ivey up for Naismith award

Coach Niele Ivey has been named as one of ten semifinalists for the Werner Ladder Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year award, just ten days after her ACC Coach of the Year honors.

The award is presented to the nation's top men's and women's head coaches annually.

Ivey led her team to an ACC regular season title, for the first time since 2019, with a 25 and 5 record.

The Irish lost to Louisville in the semifinals of last week's 2023 Ally ACC Tournament.

Notre Dame has many notable victories this season under Ivey's leadership, including knocking off rival UConn at home in early December before opening up ACC play with a road win against Virginia Tech.

In addition to the big wins, Ivey and her staff have overcome many setbacks from several player injuries.

Dara Mabrey suffered a season-ending knee injury while Laura Ebo was out of five games with a lower body injury.

Olivia Miles went down with a knee injury as well.

If Ivey wins the Naismith Award, she'd join Muffet McGraw as the only other Notre Dame head coach, male or female, to earn the honor.

McGraw having won it in 2001, 2013, and 2014.