COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M’s Mark Turgeon has been named Big 12 Coach of the Year by The Dallas Morning News.

Turgeon received the same award from the Columbia (Mo.) Tribune.

The third-year coach led the Aggies to a 22-8 record and a tie for second in the Big 12 at 11-5, matching the Aggies’ highest finish in the league’ 14-year history. The 2007 team finished alone in second.

A&M was picked fifth in the preseason coaches poll, but lost No. 2 scorer and top defender Derrick Roland to a broken leg in December. The Aggies started Big 12 play at 1-2, but won 10 of their last 13 games.

Turgeon’s 71 wins are an A&M record for a coach in a three-year span.