Rick Byrd, Belmont basketball coach is the 2012 recipient of the Bob Frederick Award, presented annually to an NCAA coach or administrator who exhibits a lifelong commitment to sportsmanship and ethical conduct, leading by example and promoting positive fan involvement in and out of competition.
Byrd has won 545 games in his 26 seasons at Belmont, is one of three coaches (with Bill Self and John Calipari) to take his team to five of the past seven NCAA tournaments, and oversees a team that has produced a collective 3.0 (or higher) GPA for the past 13 years.
The award is named for the former Kansas and Illinois State athletic director.