The award was first given following the 1979–80 season, the first year of the conference's existence.

Seven players have won the award multiple times: Byron Larkin, Brian Grant, Rashad Phillips, Alfredrick Hughes, Keifer Sykes, Loudon Love, and Antoine Davis.

Hughes, unlike the other four who each won twice, was awarded the player of the year on three occasions.

Four current members of the Horizon League have never had a winner – IU Indy, Purdue Fort Wayne, Robert Morris, and Youngstown State.

The only long-established member without a winner is Youngstown State, which joined in 2002.