MIAMI (FL) – Coach Josh Pastner of the University of Memphis was named the 2011 Red Auerbach Coach of the Year during a ceremony at the Final 4 in Houston, Texas. The Red Auerbach Award is given annually to the nation’s top Jewish college coach, as voted on by the members of the Jewish Coaches Association (JCA).

The award came after a successful second season for Coach Pastner and the Tigers. Memphis finished 25-10, with victories over ACC and SEC foes Miami and LSU, as well as a sweep of Conference USA regular season champion UAB.

The Tigers’ postseason performance was even more impressive, in which they captured the 2011 Conference USA Tournament Championship with a win over UTEP. Memphis received a #12 seed to the NCAA Tournament, where it fell to eventual Elite 8 participant Arizona 77-75.  This marked Pastner’s first appearance in the NCAA Tournament as a head coach.

Josh Pastner received the award over four other finalists that included: Joe Pasternack (University of New Orleans), Gary Manchel (Mercyhurst University), Keith Dambrot (Akron University), and Andy Yosinoff (Emmanuel College).