Hubie Brown, who led the Grizzlies to a 50-win regular season and their first playoff appearance, will receive the NBA's Coach of the Year award, The Commercial Appeal has learned.

Brown, 70, beat out Utah coach Jerry Sloan, according to two league sources with knowledge of the voting results. Brown will be presented with the award Wednesday - a day before the Grizzlies play host to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3 of their playoff series at The Pyramid.

At 50-32, the Grizzlies became the ninth team in history to record 50 wins the following season after experiencing 50 losses. Memphis ended last season with a 28-54 mark.

Brown received Coach of the Month honors for February and March after the Grizzlies manufactured records of 10-3 and 13-2. Their 13 wins in March were a franchise record.