During a news conference at Verizon Center in Washington this past May, television cameras and voice recorders surrounded Terrapins men’s basketball coach Mark Turgeon and Athletic Director Kevin Anderson.

The two were in the nation’s capital for the Big Ten’s announcement that it would hold the 2017 conference tournament at the arena, but reporters didn’t want to discuss that.

It was the first time Turgeon or Anderson had made a public appearance since guard Seth Allen became the fourth Terps player that offseason to announce his decision to transfer. Questions about the team’s stability and progress after a disappointing season flowed in for Turgeon, while the media asked Anderson whether the coach’s job was in jeopardy.

Turgeon stood by his players who stayed and his choices at the helm of the program, while Anderson voiced support for the coach. And Monday night, about 10 months after that stressful day of questioning, the two got their latest form of validation when media members named Turgeon the Big Ten Coach of the Year on the heels of a 26-5 regular season.

Turgeon’s players got some recognition, too. The conference’s media named freshman guard Melo Trimble to the All-Big Ten first team, guard Dez Wells to the second team and forward Jake Layman to the third team. The conference’s coaches, meanwhile, selected Wells for the first team, Trimble to second team and named Layman a honorable mention for their roles on the No. 8 Terps’ surprising surge into the national spotlight this season.

“I’m really happy for Maryland and Maryland basketball fans,” Turgeon said Monday. “It’s been a process for all of us. I’m happy for everybody. I’m happy for the players that have stuck with us. I’m happy for the fans and I’m happy for the coaches. I’m happy for everybody involved.”

The Terps’ 26 regular-season wins set a school record, which comes after a 17-15 campaign in 2013-14. They’ve been at their best in late-game situations, as the team’s won all 10 of its games decided by six points or fewer.

While his first three seasons with the Terps didn’t attract much positive attention, Turgeon is no stranger to earning noteworthy designations during his coaching career. Turgeon won Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year in 2006 while leading Wichita State. At Texas A&M, Turgeon won Big 12 Coach of the Year in 2010 and 2011, his final two years with the program before coming to College Park.

“We’ve been through so much, especially coach; he’s taken a lot of criticism,” guard Varun Ram said. “It’s unfortunate because, he’s been a great coach this whole time; it’s just things haven’t worked out. I’m so happy for him to be finally getting the recognition he deserves.”

Turgeon, though, wanted to discuss his players’ recognitions Monday. Trimble, who also made the Big Ten’s All-Freshman Team, was the crown jewel of a four-player recruiting class, and he ran the offense all season while leading the team with 16.1 points per game.

Wells, meanwhile, averaged 15.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists despite missing about a month with a wrist injury. Turgeon said he was most happy to see Wells, the team’s senior leader with a reputation as one of the conference’s most clutch players, earn an accolade.

“I’m really happy for him,” Turgeon said. “I’m really happy for him getting honors, but I’m more happy he’s getting to play on a really good team that has a chance to play in the NCAA tournament. And just the way he’s handled everything — it’s been great. Not only on the court has Dez excelled, but off the court he’s been great for me, too.”

Layman scored 13.1 points per game and led the Terps with 5.9 rebounds per contest en route to his award-capturing season. Turgeon said the honor “is good for Jake,” who struggled to find consistency in his first season in College Park before blossoming into a well-rounded offensive threat as a junior.

But Monday, Turgeon didn’t just heap praise on the three players who won awards. He credited his entire roster for the team’s success.

“To go 26-5, you got to have really good players,” Turgeon said, “and we have that. And we have good personality, good character kids and tough kids that when the game’s on the line, they step up and get it done.”

Layman sees it a little differently. This past spring, when the Terps faced tough times and Turgeon’s job status was in question, the coach’s passion helped keep the returning players together. That’s why, the All-Big Ten performer said this past week, the Terps could conduct a dramatic turnaround that resulted in a flurry of awards.

“For me, Dez and Evan [Smotrycz], it kind of brought our pride out with how much we respect coach Turgeon,” Layman said, “and we respect what he’s doing here.”