Hempstead, NY - Hofstra University Head Men's Basketball Coach Speedy Claxton was named the finalist for a pair of coach of the year awards, it was announced recently. 

Claxton earned finalist nods for both the Ben Jobe National Coach of the Year award and the Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year award. 

The Ben Jobe Award, which is presented annually to the top Division I minority coach and the the Hugh Durham Award is presented annually to the top Division I mid-major coach in college basketball.

Claxton has guided Hofstra to a 24-9 record so far this season as the Pride awaits its postseason fate on Sunday evening. Hofstra captured the Colonial Athletic Association regular season title with a spectacular 16-2 conference mark and earned the top seed in the CAA Championship. Along the way, Claxton and his squad had a 12-game win streak, which ranks as the fifth-longest in program history. 

Claxton was also the CAA Coach of the Year, becoming just the second Hofstra coach to earn the CAA's award since the Pride joined the league in 2001-02.