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courtesy of ‘Jimmy Morris’

The Atlantic Coast Conference concluded regular season play last weekend, and while one regional team will be headed to Charlotte to play for the league championship (Virginia Tech), local University of Maryland earned some pre-championship honors itself. The mid-week accolade this time is being handed to Coach Ralph Friedgen, who was named ACC Coach of the Year for righting a ship that seemed doomed to sink after the 2009 season.

Friedgen’s 29 votes likely came courtesy of the six game turnaround for Terp football that he engineered. Maryland rebounded from a 2-10 year to this year’s 8-4 season that saw them just outside their first ever ACC Championship Game. A year ago, Friedgen was considered by many to be on the hot seat; after this news, the future isn’t looking as bleak.

In other announcements for the Terps, rookie quarterback Danny O’Brien was also recognized as the conference’s offensive rookie of the year.

Dave Levy

Dave Levy is a PR guy by day, a media researcher on the side and a self-proclaimed geek. He blogs often about how traditional media adapts – or tries to adapt – to the growing digital media world at State of the Fourth Estate. You can follow Dave on Twitter for various updates about everything from sports from his previous home in Boston to eccentric and obscure pop culture references. Read why Dave loves D.C.