The award was first given following the 1996–97 season, the first year of the conference's existence, to Kansas Jayhawks head coach Roy Williams.

As of 2024, current Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self has won the award six times, leading the league.

The voting finished in a tie in 2011–12, with Self and Iowa State Cyclones head coach Fred Hoiberg sharing honors.

Sampson received the 2024 award with first-year member Houston, leaving the three other 2023 arrivals (BYU, Cincinnati, and UCF) without a winner for the time being.

Three former Big 12 members — Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma — also never had a winner.