Congratulations to the following coaches who have been selected as the Week 9 HoopDirt.com Coach of the Week presented by Just Play Solutions. The coaches are now eligible to receive the HoopDirt.com National Coach of the Year Award presented by Just Play Solutions which will be announced at the conclusion of the 2017-18 college basketball season.
Past weekly and yearly winners can be found below this week’s recipients.
Nominations for next week’s award can be emailed to: [email protected].
The Week 9 winners are:
NCAA DI: Joe Mihalich – Hofstra University
Coach Mihalich’s Hofstra squad took two impressive road victories this week, including a huge buzzer-beater win. The Pride rallied back from a 10-point deficit with just over five minutes remaining to take down Towson 76-73 on a buzzer-beating three by freshman Jalen Ray (video HERE). This win snapped Towson’s 14-game home winning streak, which was 9th best in the country. Hofstra then went on to defeat Drexel 91-86 to cap off the week. The victory was their 4th out of their last 5 games, and improved them to 4-2 in CAA play, good for a tie for 2nd place in the conference. The Pride return to action on Thursday at home against Delaware.
NCAA DII: Lennie Acuff – University of Alabama Huntsville
The University of Alabama Huntsville, led by Coach Acuff, put on an impressive offensive display this week on the way to two emphatic victories. The Chargers opened the week with a 109-90 win over Union (TN). They shot an unbelievable 22-35 from three, marking their highest three-point total since 2014. Alabama Huntsville’s home record was pushed to 8-0 in the victory as well. The Chargers then defeated Auburn Montgomery 106-77, marking the first time since the 1979-80 season that UAH has scored at least 100 points in consecutive victories. They also set season highs in team rebounds and assists in the victory. The 12-5 Chargers will look to extend their winning streak to four games when they face off against West Georgia tonight.
NCAA DIII: Guy Rancourt – Lycoming College (PA)
Coach Rancourt’s 12th ranked Warriors pulled off an incredible comeback en route to another stellar 2-0 week. Lycoming took on Albright College on Wednesday night and took an 86-85 victory. They trailed by 14 points with 4:42 remaining in the second half, but rallied back to come away with a stunning win. The Warriors then played another closely contested game against Arcadia University on Saturday, taking a 79-75 victory and holding off a late comeback attempt. Lycoming takes on Hood College on Saturday in a conference match-up.
NAIA: Paul Peck – Lindsey Wilson College (KY)
8th ranked Lindsey Wilson College continued their perfect start to the season with two more wins this week, including one over another top-10 team. The Blue Raiders began the week with an 85-74 victory over Shawnee State, in which they held off a late second-half run to remain undefeated. LWC then faced off against 6th ranked Pikeville (KY) in a huge top-10 matchup. They were able to take a 68-65 victory in an extremely hard-fought game and improve their record to 17-0. The Blue Raiders will look to keep winning against Life University on Wednesday.
JUCO: Chris Lovell – Bossier Parrish Community College (LA)
Coach Lovell’s Cavaliers won three more games this week, continuing their breakout season. Bossier Parish CC defeated Coastal Bend College 83-76 on Monday, Lamar State College-Port Arthur 68-66 on Wednesday, and Angelina College 93-84 on Saturday. The Cavaliers are now 14-3 on the season, and the 14 wins already mark the most for BPCC since the 2007-08 season. Coach Lovell’s squad is now 7-0 in Region XIV play for the first time in program history, and has registered back-to-back seasons of double digit win totals for the first time in over a decade. The Cavaliers face off against Trinity College CC on Wednesday.
[Coach of the Week written and compiled by HoopDirt.com contributor AJ Nelson]
2017-18 HoopDirt.com / Just Play Solutions Coach of the Week Winners
NCAA DI: Fran Dunphy – Temple University
NCAA DII: Pryor Orser – Colorado School of Mines
NCAA DIII: Kevin Bettencourt – Endicott College (MA)
NAIA (co-winner): Wayne Wagner – Viterbo University (WI)
NAIA (co-winner): Matt O’Brien – Southwestern College (KS)
JUCO: Mark White – Tallahassee Community College
NCAA DI: Porter Moser – Loyola University Chicago
NCAA DII: Andy Bronkema – Ferris State University (MI)
NCAA DIII: Justin Lunt – University of Puget Sound (WA)
NAIA: Keith Adkins – Life University (GA)
JUCO: Don Tuley – Seminole State College (OK)
NCAA DI: Chris Mack – Xavier University
NCAA DII: Darrell Walker – Clark Atlanta University
NCAA DIII: Pat Juckem – University of Wisconsin-Osh Kosh
NAIA: R-Jay Barsh – Southeastern University (FL)
JUCO: Steve DeMeo – Northwest Florida State College
NCAA DI: James Whitford – Ball State
NCAA DII: Adam Bohac – Southern Nazarene University (OK)
NCAA DIII: Hilliary Scott – Lynchburg College (VA)
NAIA: Vinay Patel – Oklahoma City University
JUCO: Tommy Guerin – Borough of Manhattan Community College
NCAA DI: Steve Pikiell – Rutgers University
NCAA DII: Jeff Burkhamer – University of West Florida
NCAA DIII: Steve Howes – Catholic University (DC)
NAIA: Kyle Blankenship – Louisiana State University – Shreveport
JUCO: Hank Plona – Indian Hills Community College (IA)
NCAA DI: Mike Young – Wofford College
NCAA DII: Bart Lundy – Queens University of Charlotte
NCAA DIII: Mike Schauer – Wheaton College (IL)
NAIA: Kelvin Starr – The Master’s University (CA)
JUCO: Evan Lavery – Rock Valley College (IL)
NCAA DI: LaVall Jordan – Butler University
NCAA DII: Rodney Watson – University of Southern Indiana
NCAA DIII: Eric Bridgeland – Whitman College (WA)
NAIA: Jeff Sherman – Central Methodist University (MO)
JUCO: Brian Peabody – Pima Community College (AZ)
NCAA DI: Tad Boyle – University of Colorado
NCAA DII: Jeff Boschee – Missouri Southern State University
NCAA DIII: Ron Rose – Illinois Wesleyan University
NAIA: Jesse Watkins – College of Coastal Georgia
JUCO: Chris Hackett – Frank Phillips College (TX)
Previous HoopDirt.com Coach of the Year Award Winners:
Division I
2016-17: Chris Collins – Northwestern University
2015-16: Roy Williams – University of North Carolina
Division II
2016-17: Ben McCollum – Northwest Missouri State
2015-16: Josh Schertz – Lincoln Memorial University (TN)
Division III
2016-17: Stephen Brennan – Babson College (MA)
2015-16: John Tauer – University of St. Thomas (MN)
NAIA
2016-17: Kevin Burton – Union College (KY)
2015-16: Larry Cordaro – LSU-Alexandria
JUCO
2016-17: Todd Lorensen – Southwestern Community College (IA)
2015-16: Craig Doty – Rock Valley College (IL)
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About Just Play Solutions
Just Play Solutions is quickly becoming a market leader in helping coaches to prepare faster and teach athletes more effectively. From our digital coaching tools to interactive mobile app coaches can build playbooks, scouting reports, integrate video and even quiz players. Working with over 325 programs from high school to the professional levels, Just Play has a solution for any budget or need. Just Play currently has products available for Basketball, Football, Soccer, Hockey and Lacrosse.
