Neighbors is one of 10 head coaches across the nation to be named a national semifinalist for the award. He is joined on the list by Texas' Karen Aston, Connecticut's Geno Auriemma, Maryland's Brenda Frese, Missouri's Robin Pingeton, North Carolina State's Wes Moore, Oregon State's Scott Rueck, Mississippi State's Vic Schaefer, Florida State's Sue Semrau and Stanford's Tara VanDerveer.
The award's national voting academy will submit ballots and narrow the list from 10 coaches to four national finalists on March 15. The Naismith College Coach of the Year will be officially decided on March 31.
Neighbors has guided Washington to a historic campaign in 2016-17, leading the Huskies to 27 wins, its second-most in program history and is just one short of tying the record set in 1990 (28).
Picked to place third in the Pac-12 in the preseason poll, Washington finished tied for second in the league with a 15-3 record, its best conference finish since 2003. The Huskies' 15 conference wins was also tied for third-most in program history. Washington, who entered conference play with a program-best 12 non-conference wins, clinched a bye in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament.
Washington put together an 11-game win streak and a six-game win streak in Pac-12 play this season. The Huskies' ranking of No. 9 (Dec. 19-Jan. 1) in the AP Top 25 poll, cracked the Top 10 during the regular season for the first time since 1998.
Washington tops the nation in several statistical categories this season, including leading the NCAA in made three-pointers (319), second in made free throws (496), third in three-point field goals per game (10.3), fifth in scoring margin (22.4), sixth in points per game (85.3) and eighth in field goal percentage (47.4).
This season, the Huskies have already set new program records in points scored (2,643) and three-pointers made (319).
Neighbors and company had a 16-1 record at home during the 2016-17 season, knocking off three ranked opponents along the way at Alaska Airlines Arena.
In just four seasons at the helm, Neighbors has built the Huskies into a national contender, amassing a 96-39 record, including two trips to the NCAA Tournament, punctuated by last season's historic run to the Final Four.
Under Neighbors, Washington now has four consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 2000-04. In four years at the helm, Neighbors has guided Washington to four consecutive 20-plus win seasons for the first time since 1987-1991.
The Huskies begin play at the 2017 Pac-12 Tournament at KeyArena in Seattle on Friday evening. After locking up a bye in the first round, No. 3-seeded Washington will face No. 6-seed Oregon on Friday with tip off set for approximately 8:30 p.m. PT on Pac-12 Networks.