Mamadou Gueye has been named the 2023 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Coach of the Year.
The BAL announced the award before the start of the Third-Place Game on Friday.
The 44-year-old has led AS Douanes to the 2023 BAL Final.
AS Douanes started the season with a 0-2 mark, but in a turn of events, they won the remaining three games of the Sahara Conference.
The Senegalese champions beat reigning champions US Monastir (76-60) on the last day of the Conference to finish with a 3-2 record and qualify for the Playoffs.
Gueye’s team continued their sensational campaign with a Semi-Finals 92-86 win against title contender Petro de Luanda on Wednesday.
Gueye’s AS Douanes are currently on a five-game winning streak.
AS Douanes will face Al Ahly in the 2023 BAL Final on Saturday, May 27.
Gueye holds an overall win-loss record of 6-5 dating back to the BAL inaugural season when they finished 1-3.
Gueye becomes the second to win the award since it was introduced last year.
Petro de Luanda’s Jose Neto won the 2022 Coach of the Year award.
Criteria for the Coach of the Year award – according to the BAL – a coach must have:
- Developed a mutually respectful relationship with league, game officials, media, opponents and fans;
- Had the best results based on the resources at their disposal.
The nomination process is decided by head coaches, and two assistant coaches; A coach cannot select a member of his/her team.
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