By AJ Nelson, HoopDirt.com staff writer
Congratulations to the following coaches who have been selected as the Week 5 HoopDirt.com Coach of the Week presented by Just Play Solutions. These 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 2021-22 college basketball season.
This is the seventh season that HoopDirt.com has run the Coach of the Week and Coach of the Year programs. The list 2021-22 Coach of the Week winners, as well as the list of all-time COY winners can be found following this week’s honorees.
To nominate coaches for future weeks, please email [email protected] with your selection(s).
The Week 5 winners are:
NCAA DI: Kevin Willard – Seton Hall University
Coach Willard moved into second place on Seton Hall’s all-time wins list this week, as his Pirates picked up a pair of huge victories. 23rd-ranked Seton Hall began its week by hosting No. 7 Texas as part of the Big East-Big 12 Battle on Thursday. The Pirates held the visitors scoreless over a crucial 7:40 stretch late in the second half, during which the Pirates took the lead for good, to come away with a 64-60 triumph. This victory was Coach Willard’s 212th with Seton Hall, moving him into a tie with P.J. Carlesimo for the second-most in program history. Willard took sole possession of second-place in the Pirates’ next contest — a 77-63 win against in-state rival Rutgers on Sunday. Now off to a 9-1 start for the first time since the 2017-18 campaign, Seton Hall will look for its 10th win against Iona at the Gotham Classic in New York City on Saturday.
NCAA DII: Jason Taylor – Newberry College
After an 0-5 start to the season, Coach Taylor’s squad has won four straight, including two thrilling victories this week. The Wolves hosted No. 9 Queens (NC) on Wednesday, and led by as many as 22 early in the second half. Newberry held off a late Queens comeback attempt, eventually knocking down a jumper with 1.1 seconds left to come away with a huge 67-65 win. In their next contest, the Wolves trailed Carson-Newman by 11 at halftime before a 21-2 second-half run propelled them to a 55-51 victory. Now 4-5 (4-3 SAC) on the season, Newberry hits the road to face off against Tusculum in its next matchup on Wednesday.
NCAA DIII: Scott Coval – DeSales University
With another pair of wins this week, Coach Coval’s Bulldogs are off to the best start in program history. 25th-ranked DeSales showed off its depth in its first game of the week, as 13 different players scored in a 64-44 victory over Stevens on Wednesday. Back in action on Saturday, the Bulldogs never trailed in an impressive 82-68 triumph against Misericordia. The win improved DeSales to 10-0 for the first time in team history, surpassing the 2008-09 campaign’s 9-0 start. The Bulldogs next face off against Muhlenberg on the road in a non-conference matchup on December 20th.
NAIA: Alfred Williams – Xavier University of Louisiana
Coach Williams picked up his 100th win with Xavier this week, as the Gold Rush jumped out to their best start in several years. XULA’s only game this week was an 84-57 defeat of William Carey on Monday, but the win was notable on several levels. Not only was the victory the Gold Rush’s largest ever against William Carey, but it also marked their first 7-1 start since the 2014-15 season. It was also Coach Williams’ 100th win with XULA, as he now holds a record of 100-55 in his sixth season with the program. His squad will look to extend their winning streak to eight when they take on Hawaii Pacific at the Hoops in Hawaii Holiday Classic on Friday.
JUCO: Jake Williams – Dodge City Community College
Coach Williams guided No. 10 Dodge City to a pair of conference victories over ranked opponents this week, as his Conquistadors improved to 11-1 (6-0 KJCCC) on the season. Missing their leading scorer for both games this week, Dodge City defeated No. 19 Butler 74-63 at home on Wednesday before traveling to take on previously unbeaten, 4th-ranked Hutchinson on Saturday. The Conquistadors jumped out to a 16-point halftime lead, and were able to hold on for an impressive 102-96 victory to take over sole possession of first place in the Jayhawk Conference. They will attempt to win their 10th straight contest when they match up against Cloud County on the road tonight.
2021-22 HoopDirt.com / Just Play Solutions Coach of the Week Winners
NCAA DI: Gerald Gillion – Chicago State University
NCAA DII: Jeff Brookman – Anderson University
NCAA DIII: Rich Sutter – Westfield State University
NAIA: Kurt Paulson – Carroll College
JUCO: Jeremy Shulman – Eastern Florida State College
NCAA DI: Lamont Paris – Chattanooga
NCAA DII: Bart Lundy – Queens University of Charlotte
NCAA DIII: Chris Carideo – Widener University
NAIA: Chris Wright – Talladega College
JUCO: Allen Sharpe – Wallace State Community College
NCAA DI: T.J. Otzelberger – Iowa State
NCAA DII: Todd Duncan – Lubbock Christian University
NCAA DIII: Jeff Brown – Middlebury College
NAIA: Tigh Compton – University of Pikeville
JUCO: Hank Plona – Indian Hills Community College
NCAA DI: Ed Cooley – Providence College
NCAA DII: Greg Clink – Cal State Chico
NCAA DIII: Tim Fusina – Waynesburg University
NAIA: Stacy Hollowell – Loyola University New Orleans
JUCO: Kyle Taylor – Salt Lake Community College
Previous HoopDirt.com Coach of the Year Award Winners:
Division I
- 2020-21: Dennis Gates – Cleveland State University
- 2019-20: Joe Gallo – Merrimack College
- 2018-19: Kelvin Sampson – University of Houston
- 2017-18: Porter Moser – Loyola University Chicago
- 2016-17: Chris Collins – Northwestern University
- 2015-16: Roy Williams – University of North Carolina
Division II
- 2020-21: Ben McCollum – Northwest Missouri State
- 2019-20: Fred Watson – Miles College
- 2018-19: Ben McCollum – Northwest Missouri State
- 2017-18: Andy Bronkema – Ferris State
- 2016-17: Ben McCollum – Northwest Missouri State
- 2015-16: Josh Schertz – Lincoln Memorial University
Division III
- 2020-21: Brooks Miller – Trine University
- 2019-20: Elliot Steinmetz – Yeshiva University
- 2018-19: Dale Wellman – Nebraska Wesleyan University
- 2017-18: Eric Bridgeland – Whitman College
- 2016-17: Stephen Brennan – Babson College
- 2015-16: John Tauer – University of St. Thomas
NAIA
- 2020-21: Delano Thomas – Shawnee State University
- 2019-20: Colby Blaine – College of Idaho
- 2018-19: Chris Briggs – Georgetown College
- 2017-18: Craig Doty – Graceland University
- 2016-17: Kevin Burton – Union College
- 2015-16: Larry Cordaro – LSU-Alexandria
JUCO
- 2020-21: No winner named – COVID season
- 2019-20: Randy Casey – Milwaukee Area Technical College
- 2018-19: Billy Gillispie – Ranger College
- 2017-18: Paul Cisek – Brookdale Community College
- 2016-17: Todd Lorensen – Southwestern Community College
- 2015-16: Craig Doty – Rock Valley College
USCAA
- 2018-19: LeShawn Hammett – Penn State Wilkes-Barre
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