BLACKSBURG -- A couple of weeks ago, Miami's Larry Coker said Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer will be a candidate for ACC coach of the year every season.

Well, so far, Beamer is perfect in that regard.

Beamer, whose fifth-ranked Hokies (10-1) will be shooting for a second straight ACC football championship Saturday against Florida State, was named the league's top coach Tuesday for the second consecutive season in balloting conducting by members of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association.

Like last season, Beamer earned a $25,000 bonus listed in his contract for winning the award.

It was the fifth conference coach of the year award for Beamer. He won the Big East award in 1995, 1996 and 1999, when he also was selected as the consensus national coach of the year.

"One thing that is big with us is we get better [in games] as the day goes along," Beamer said. "I think that says something about Mike Gentry [strength and conditioning coach] ... and I think it says our assistant coaches are making good [halftime] adjustments and running good plays. And it certainly makes a statement about our players."

-- Randy King