Carlo Ancelotti won the award with Juventus in the 2000–01 season, becoming the first coach to do so despite having not won the league, finishing runners-up behind Roma by two points. The following season, a fifth-place finish from newly promoted Chievo, and subsequent qualification for the 2002–03 UEFA Cup, ensured the Coach of the Year was awarded to Luigi Delneri.
In the 2000–01 season, Carlo Ancelotti led Juventus to victory in the award category, a feat that had never been accomplished before, as he did so without securing the league championship. The following year, Chievo's fifth-place finish after their promotion and subsequent qualification for the UEFA Cup ensured Luigi Delneri received the Coach of the Year title.