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 achieved an unprecedented victory with Juventus in the award category, as he did so without securing the league title. The following year, Chievo's fifth-place finish after promotion and subsequent UEFA Cup qualification led to Luigi Delneri receiving the Coach of the Year honor.