Who will be elected Coach of the Year in Betclic ELITE?

The National Basketball League (LNB) has revealed the five nominees for the Betclic ELITE Coach of the Year award. Not surprisingly, the coaches from five of the top six teams in the regular season – Pierric Poupet, Vassilis Spanoulis, Tiago Splitter, Fabrice Lefrançois and Guillaume Vizade – are in contention. Frédéric Fauthoux, coach of JL Bourg (fifth) and the French national team, is the only Top 6 coach not nominated. Voting closed on Monday, May 5, and the winner will be announced at the 2025 LNB Awards ceremony.

🧠 Great teams always have a great coach…

👔 The Coach of the Year in #BetclicELITE is _________ #TrophéesLNB pic.twitter.com/WRpxYhKfjQ

— Betclic ELITE (@Betclic_ELITE) May 8, 2025

A top 5 marked by unique trajectories

It’s difficult to decide as all paths are rich and different. Fabrice Lefrançois embodies the season’s success story. With Cholet, a club with a more modest budget than its competitors, he managed to lead his team to the Top 4 of Betclic ELITE, defying expectations. This underdog status could appeal to voters.

On the opposite end, Pierric Poupet brilliantly took over the reins of ASVEL. Arriving in a difficult context, he gave new momentum to a team that has regained its place among the championship’s elite. This ability to turn things around works in his favor.

In their first season in Betclic ELITE, Vassilis Spanoulis and Tiago Splitter quickly made their mark. The Greek EuroLeague legend managed to get the best out of a competitive Monaco roster, while the Brazilian transformed Paris Basketball into an undeniable force in the championship, along with an impressive EuroLeague campaign.

Finally, Guillaume Vizade has also made a strong impression. Promoted from Pro B with JA Vichy, he led Le Mans to an impressive season, crowned with a Leaders Cup title and a French Cup final appearance. An even more remarkable performance considering it was his first experience in the top division.

Whoever’s name is revealed, the trophy will reward a strong trajectory from what has been a particularly competitive 2024-2025 season.