Manning Named Big 12 Coach of the Year

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Lincoln ? The Big 12 Conference has named Nebraska Head Coach Mark Manning the 2008 Big 12 Coach of the Year, the league office announced today.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

Manning, in his eighth year at NU, has led the Huskers to new heights, particularly during the 2007-08 season. Manning has accrued a 109-42-2 record in duals, including 14-3 and 3-1 in the Big 12 last season. Under Manning, the Huskers nearly went undefeated in the conference for the first time in their 98-year history. The year’s highlights include a second-place finish at the National Duals in January before defeating OklahomaState for just the third time in school history on Jan. 20. Manning also collected his 100th career dual win at Nebraska against Northern Colorado.

Manning balanced that regular season success with an impressive run in the postseason. The Huskers finished second at the 2008 Big 12 Championships, matching their best finish as a team and earning 62.5 points in the process, their most ever. The team capped its season with a fourth-place showing at the NCAA Championships in St. Louis, its highest showing since 1993. The Huskers crowned five All-Americans, the most in a single year at NU for Manning, and the most for Nebraska since 1995. Manning has coached 23 Huskers to All-America status and led NU to four top-10 team finishes.

The award is decided by a vote of the conference coaches. This is the first conference honor for Manning.