When I sat down to write this column, I was going to lead (or “lede” for my fellow press box jockeys) with: “Go ahead and give Seth Greenberg the Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year Award. There isn’t another coach in the ACC that deserves it more.”

But, as I started doing my research, I discovered that there are really three very worthy candidates for the award … if the season were to end today.

The three coaches are Virginia Tech’s Greenberg, miami’s Frank Haith, and wake forest’s Dino Gaudio. Each of these men has taken his team to heights not thought possible before the 2007-08 season tipped off.

The Hokies, hurricanes, and demon deacons were picked to finish 10th, 11th and 12th, respectively, in the ACC prior to the season. As of today, Virginia Tech (8-6, 17-11) is alone in 4th place, while the deacs (6-6, 16-9) are in sixth, and the canes (6-7, 19-6) are in seventh. Tech and wake have a chance to finish 10-6 if they win out, but it will be a more difficult road for the deacons, who finish the season with maryland at home (2/28), then georgia tech (3/1) and Virginia Tech (3/4) on the road, before returning home to close out the season against in-state rival nc state (3/8). miami has three games left: the next two at home against virginia (3/1) and boston college (3/5), and then on the road against florida state (3/8).

I think Haith is on the outside looking in, right now. Unless his team can win out and finish 9-7 in the conference, I’m not sure he has a shot — an honorable effort worthy of mention, but not ACC COY material this season. Especially if Greenberg can win at least one of his final two games and finish 9-7. However, if wake forest can split their final four games and finish 8-8, I think Gaudio will get COY and I can’t argue with that decision.

We’re talking about a team that tragically lost their head coach Skip Prosser to a heart attack before the season started. Gaudio had so many unknowns to overcome … and he overcame them. Gaudio inherited a team picked to finish dead last in the ACC — he has them in sixth place, with a shot at finishing 10-6, which would probably put them in third place. Even 8-8 would be a major accomplishment, especially with a big win over duke on the resume. Gaudio is the sentimental favorite and I doubt anyone would argue against it.

Meanwhile, a compelling argument can also be made for Greenberg. The Hokies are the youngest team in the ACC with seven freshman, three sophomores, two juniors and two seniors. The guys who actually play quality minutes includes six freshmen, one sophomore, one junior and one senior. Those six freshman represent 55 percent of the minutes for the team.

With two games left in the regular season, the Hokies are in fourth place in the ACC at 8-6 and 17-11 overall. Tech has two games left on the schedule: at home next Tuesday vs. wake forest, before closing out the season on the road against clemson on March 9.

Regardless of what the Hokies do in the final two contests, Seth Greenberg would be a solid choice for the ACC Coach of the Year, an honor he first earned during Tech’s inaugural season in college basketball’s best conference (2004-2005) when the Hokies went 8-8. To play .500 ball with six freshman playing more than half of your minutes is truly amazing for any team in any conference, but to do it in the ACC is truly impressive and the mark of an outstanding coaching staff.

Of course, the Hokies lack a marquee win this season unless they can steal a road victory against clemson. The canes and deacs both have wins over duke, which could be the deciding factor if all three teams finish above .500. However, if the Hokies finish 10-6 in the ACC and end up third in the final regular season standings behind unc and duke, lock up ACC COY for Greenberg. Otherwise, I think Gaudio gets it as long as he finishes 8-8.