Under Mangino's direction, KU will play in a bowl game for the third time in five years. Mangino is the first coach in school history to reach a bowl game three times.
The conference coach of the year honors marks the seventh time a KU coach has won the honor. Mangino joins Pepper Rodgers (1967), Bud Moore (1975), Don Fambrough (1981), Mike Gottfried (1984) and Mason (1991 and 1995).
McClinton, a senior defensive tackle from Garland, Texas, was named the league's Defensive Lineman of the Year by the coaches. McClinton has recorded 38 tackles, including 11 tackles for loss this year. He has 2.5 sacks and registered an interception against Colorado.
Herford was tabbed as the league's Special Teams Player of the Year. The junior from DeSoto, Texas, leads the Big 12 and ranks eighth in the NCAA with a 30.04 kickoff return average. He is one of 10 players in the country with at least two kickoff returns for touchdowns after scoring against Southeastern Louisiana and Baylor.
KU had four players named All-Big 12 First Team in offensive tackle Anthony Collins, McClinton, linebacker Joe Mortensen and cornerback Aqib Talib, who was one of two repeat first-team honorees from last season along with Kansas State defensive tackle Ian Campbell.
KU's four first-team picks rank third in the conference behind Oklahoma (six) and Missouri (five). KU's eight first or second team honorees also rank third behind Oklahoma (12) and Missouri (11). Three schools had five players named first or second team.
The four first-team selections are the most since KU had four named all-Big Eight in 1993.
Collins, a junior from Beaumont, Texas, who is also a finalist for the Outland Trophy given to the nation's top lineman, has been KU's top lineman this season. He has averaged nearly nine knockdowns per game, while helping pave the way for KU's offense which has averaged 197 yards rushing and 295 yards passing this season.
Mortensen ranks eighth in the conference with 8.2 tackles per game after taking over the middle linebacker position this season. The junior from Concord, Calif., leads the conference and is tied for 45th in the NCAA with 1.17 tackles for loss per game.
Talib, who is a Bronko Nagurski Award finalist, has recorded 61 tackles, 13 passes broken up and four interceptions. The junior from Richardson, Texas, leads the Big 12 and is tied for 11th nationally with 1.42 passes defended per game.
Kansas' second-team selections include quarterback Todd Reesing, running back Brandon McAnderson, wide receiver Marcus Henry and return man Herford.
Reesing, a sophomore from Austin, Texas, who is in his first year as a starter, has had a record-breaking season. He has thrown for a school record 3,259 yards and a school record 32 touchdowns, while ranking 12th in the nation in passing efficiency.
McAnderson, a senior from Lawrence, Kan., became the 12th player in KU history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season and he has 1,050 yards through the regular season. McAnderson has rushed for 100 yards in five different games and has averaged 6.0 yards per carry.
Henry is just six yards shy of becoming the third player in KU history to record 1,000 receiving yards in a season as he has 52 catches for 994 yards and nine touchdowns through 12 games. The senior from Lawton, Okla. has five 100-yard receiving games this season and has produced a team-best 16 plays of 20 or more yards, including eight of at least 40 yards.
KU honorable mention selections include center Ryan Cantrell, linebacker James Holt, linebacker Mike Rivera, offensive tackle Cesar Rodriguez, safety Darrell Stuckey and place kicker Scott Webb.
Cantrell, a junior, has been KU's most consistent offensive lineman, starting all 12 games at the center position.
