George Karl earns Coach of the Year honors after leading Nuggets to team-record season

Denver Nuggets coach George Karl gestures from the sidelines during the second half of Game 6 in a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday, May 2, 2013, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) (The Associated Press)

Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl, center, reacts in the closing seconds of a 92-88 loss to the Golden State Warriors during Game 6 in a first-round NBA basketball playoff series in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, May 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) (The Associated Press)

George Karl is the NBA's Coach of the Year after leading the Denver Nuggets to a team-record 57 wins this season.

Karl got 62 first-place votes from a panel of sports writers and broadcasters.

Golden State eliminated the Nuggets 92-88 in Game 6 last Thursday night.

It's the first time Karl has won the award in 25 seasons. He joins Doug Moe as the only Denver coaches to earn the honor.

Karl says he's "honored and energized" to receive the award.

The Nuggets rallied down the stretch, winning 15 straight at one point and going 24-4 after the All-Star break. They also won a franchise-best 38 games at the Pepsi Center.