Posted 03/03/17, 6:18 PM

DALLAS (AM News Net)  –  Not even fully completed with his first year on the job, head basketball coach at Southern Methodist University Tim Jankovich is already making strong impressions. The Mustangs currently lead the American Athletic Conference 16-1, and 26-4 overall.

The new coach has earned the spot of one of ten national semi-finalists for the 2017 Werner Ladder Naismith Men's College Coach of the Year Award. The Mustangs, beginning their season with winning just over half of their games, turned around under Jankovich's eye, and have now won 22 of their past 23 games.

SMU Basketball ranks third in the NCAA in rebound margin  and scoring defense, at 9.9 and 59.3 respectively.

So far, Jankovich has the most victories of all caches in their first full season at their current school and is ranked #14/19 in the Associated Press and Coaches polls.

"No coach deserves Coach of the Year more than Coach Jank [sic]," Nic Moore, a former SMU basketball player who now plays for Enel Brindisi in Italy, said on Twitter. "His journey is real and he is showing that every day."

Moore continued, recalling a speech he gave during his last home game playing for the Mustangs.

"When I gave my speech on Senior Night, I said that 'SMU is going to be in great hands when Coach Jank [sic] takes over' and look at what he's done," Moore said.

Also in the area, Baylor coach Scott Drew was also named a semifinalist. The final four finalists will be announced on Twitter on Thursday, March 16. A final round of voting will occur from March 20 to March 30. The final winner will be declared at the Naismith Awards annual Final Four brunch on Sunday, April 2 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

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