PRINCESS ANNE — Bobby Collins, head coach of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore men’s basketball team, has been named a finalist for the Hugh Durham Award by CollegeInsider.com. With the best season for UMES in 41 years, Collins has received a nomination for the top mid-major coach in the nation. The recipient of the 2015 award will be announced at the CollegeInsider.com Awards Banquet on April 3 in Indianapolis.

Collins is among the 16 finalists for the Hugh Durham Award, presented annually to the nation’s top coach at a mid-major school in Division I men’s basketball. Collins is also among the finalists for the Ben Jobe Award, given out to the nation’s top minority coach. The Southern Pines, N.C. native already received the MEAC Coach of the Year, voted by his peers in the conference.

Under Collins’ direction, the Hawks enjoyed unprecedented success for a first-year head coach. UMES finished with an 18-15 record, their most victories in a single year since 1973-74 season. Taking third place in the MEAC at 11-5, the Hawks put together their best finish in the league in 21 years. Despite an early exit in the conference tournament, UMES still garnered a postseason berth in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. The CIT appearance was the first postseason appearance for the school since 1981 NAIA Districts, and the first against NCAA competition since the 1974 NIT.

The Hugh Durham Award is named in honor of the iconic coach who had retired at the end of the 2004-05 season. Durham is one of just twelve coaches to have led two different programs to the NCAA Final Four (Florida State in 1972 and Georgia in 1983). He is the only coach among that group to have led both schools to their lone Final Four appearance. Other nominees include Tommy Amaker (Harvard), Will Brown (Albany), Keno Davis (Central Michigan), Bryce Drew (Valparaiso), Jim Engles (NJIT), Bill Herrion (New Hampshire), Bobby Hurley (Buffalo), Ben Jacobson (Northern Iowa), James Jones (Yale), Brian Katz (Sacramento State), Jim Les (UC Davis), LeVelle Moton (North Carolina Central), Steve Prohm (Murray State), Heath Schroyer (UT-Martin) and Brad Underwood (Stephen F. Austin).