SMS is Coach of the Year.

I cannot quibble with the selection, as McConnell-Serio took a team with a lot of turnover, got the rookies to play well early, and made the squad even better than they were last season. Her team made the playoffs, despite losing Katie Smith for the stretch run.

Still, most prognosticators had the Connecticut Sun finishing last in the East, including USA Today's infamous prediction that the Sun would finish 7th in the six-team East. I picked the Sun last in the East in my Full Court Press preview. Mike Thibault traded an Olympian for an unproven rookie and didn't miss a beat, finishing first in the East. For these reasons, Thibault has my vote for Coach of the Year.