Holtmann, 41, led Gardner-Webb to its first 20-win season as a full member of NCAA Division I, directing his squad to a 20-11 regular season mark and a second-place finish in the Big South Conference's South Division - despite being picked fifth in the six-team division in the preseason by the league's head coaches and media.

The Nicholasville, Ky., native was named Big South Conference Coach of the Year for his efforts, garnering first-place votes from 10 of the league's 12 head coaches. The Runnin' Bulldogs advanced to the semifinal round in the 2013 VisitMyrtleBeach.com Big South Conference Tournament.

The Hugh Durham Award is named for legendary coach Hugh Durham, who retired from the profession following the 2004-2005 season. Durham is one of just 12 coaches to have led two different programs - Florida State in 1972 and Georgia in 1983 - to the Final Four. He closed out his career as the head coach at Jacksonville University.

The 2013 award will be presented at the CollegeInsider.com Awards Banquet in Atlanta, site of the men's Final Four.

The complete list of finalists includes: Jim Baron (Canisius), Rick Byrd (Belmont), Bill Coen (Northeastern), Keith Dambrot (Akron), Kermit Davis (Middle Tennessee), Billy Donlon (Wright State), Andy Enfield (Florida Gulf Coast), Anthony Evans (Norfolk State), Chris Holtmann (Gardner-Webb), Danny Kaspar (Stephen F. Austin), Matt Matheny (Elon), Joe Mihalich (Niagara), Jim Molinari (Western Illinois), LeVelle Moton (North Carolina Central), Steve Pikiell (Stony Brook), Joe Scott (Denver), Pat Skerry (Towson), Zach Spiker (Army), Wayne Tinkle (Montana), Tod Kowalczyk (Toledo), Michael White (Louisiana Tech).