Redshirt-sophomore Chris Walters (Stamford, Conn.) and seniors BJ Cardarelli (Manchester, Conn.) and Rodney Sanders (Elizabeth, N.J.) combined for 65 points to help secure the 600th victory of head coach Stan Spirou’s career as the Southern New Hampshire University men’s basketball team grinded out an 88-82 win against American International College in a Northeast-10 Championship first round game Friday evening at the SNHU Fieldhouse.

One of the most successful coaches in the history of Division II basketball, Spirou becomes the eighth head coach ever to win 600 NCAA Division II contests and is one of four still active.  Spirou is the 15th-longest tenured active head coach in Division II.

The 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1999 New England Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year, Spirou has averaged an impressive 19.3 wins per season and has led the program to 16 NCAA Tournament appearances, five NCAA Regional titles and six NECC Tournament championships. In addition, he was named the 1994 national Coach of the Year by Division II Bulletin.  Spirou’s teams have finished at .500 or better 24 times in 30 seasons.

Photo Courtesy SNHU Athletics