CSU Bakersfield’s Rod Barnes was honored as one of the 20 coaches on the list for the 2017 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year Award.

The Jim Phelan award is presented annually to the top coach in division I men's basketball.

Barnes led CSUB to its first-ever Division I NCAA Tournament in 2016. The Runners are in the semifinals of the National Invitational Tournament this week after winning the regular season Western Athletic Conference title.

The recipient of the 2017 Phelan award will be announced in Phoenix, Arizona.

More information can be found on the CSUB Runners website.