The award is granted to the head coach voted to be the most successful that season by members of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association,[1] and since the 2012–13 season has also been awarded in separate voting by the league's coaches.
[2] The award was first given following the 1953–54 season, the first year of the conference's existence,[3] to Everett Case of NC State.
[2] Dean Smith of North Carolina has won the most awards with eight, followed by Mike Krzyzewski of Duke, with five, and currently active coach Tony Bennett of Virginia, with four.
North Carolina has the most ACC Coach of the Year awards with twelve, while its in-state rival, Duke, is second with ten.
Each school of Tobacco Road (including NC State and Wake Forest) has won at least seven awards, as has Virginia with eight.