PORTLAND, Ore. - Warner Pacific College men's basketball coach Jared Valentine has been named a finalist for the 2015 Don Meyer National Coach of the Year Award.

The award is presented annually to the top NAIA coach in college basketball.

In his fourth season at the helm, Valentine guided the Knights to a Cascade Collegiate Conference regular season co-championship, a #15 national ranking, and an overall record of 26-8. The Knights also qualified for the NAIA National Tournament for the third time in his four seasons.

The Don Meyer Award is named in honor of former Lipscomb coach Don Meyer. In 38 seasons at Hamline, Lipscomb and Northern State, he compiled a 923-324 record. Meyer lost his battle to cancer in 2014 at the age of 69.

The other finalists include: Ken Ammann (Concordia University), Donnie Bostwick (SAGU, Texas), Scott Combs (Martin Methodist), Bill Czech (Hope International), Kim Elders (Cornerstone University), Paul Gavin (Mount Mercy), Willie Holley (Mid-American Christian), Steve Keller (Montana Western), John Moore (Westmont College), Steve Ridder (Embry-Riddle), Brandon Rinta (Lewis-Clark State), Jason Shelton (Freed-Hardeman), Steve Shepherd (College of the Ozarks), and Matt Wilber (Dakota Wesleyan).

The award will be presented at the CollegeInsider.com Awards Banquet on April 3 in Indianapolis.