Steve Kerr Wins 2016 NBA Coach of the Year

Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors has won 2016 NBA Coach of the Year, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein. Although he missed the first 43 games of the season recovering from back surgery, he coached the Warriors to a 34-5 record. Fueled by a 39-4 start under assistant coach Luke Walton, the Warriors finished with an NBA-best 73-9, beating the 1996 Chicago Bulls’ record of 72-10 and making history.

ESPN sources say that Golden State's Steve Kerr has won the NBA Coach of the Year award for the 2015-16 season.

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) April 26, 2016

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts finished second in the voting, with San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich trailing in third by a wide margin. The Trail Blazers were widely expected to miss the post season after restructuring last summer, but Stotts worked with the new pieces GM Neil Olshey gave him, earning a playoff berth. In fact, Sunday night's victory over the Los Angeles Clippers makes one more Blazers playoff win than they had last season. Their series is currently tied at 2-2.

Warriors' Steve Kerr edges out Blazers' Terry Stotts as 2016 NBA Coach of the Year pic.twitter.com/ABrd6Vdgtm

— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) April 26, 2016

It is perhaps worth noting that Stotts actually made 22 more ballots than Kerr (111-89), which is not entirely unexpected, considering Kerr's extended absence. Still, Kerr's selection was far from frivolous.

In two seasons as the Warriors’ head coach, Kerr has accrued 140 wins and only 24 losses, bringing his winning percentage to and unbelievable .854. The Warriors won the NBA championship under his leadership in 2014-15 and are favorites to win this year as well, barring an extended recovery time for reigning MVP Stephen Curry, who suffered a sprained MCL on Sunday.

View complete voting results, here.