By AJ Nelson, WHoopDirt.com staff writer
Congratulations to the following coaches who have been selected as the Week 15 WHoopDirt.com Coach of the Week presented by Capital Elite Agency. These coaches are now eligible to receive the WHoopDirt.com National Coach of the Year Award presented by Capital Elite Agency which will be announced at the conclusion of the 2021-22 college basketball season.
This is the third season that WHoopDirt.com has run the Coach of the Week and Coach of the Year programs. The list of 2021-22 Coach of the Week winners, as well as previous Coach of the Year winners can be found below this week’s recipients.
To nominate coaches for future weeks, please email [email protected] with your selection(s).
The Week 15 winners are:
NCAA DI: Yolett McPhee-McCuin – University of Mississippi
Coach McPhee-McCuin continues to revitalize the Ole Miss program, as her Rebels reached the 20-win mark this week for the first time since the 2006-07 season. Ole Miss hosted Texas A&M on Thursday, jumping out to a 35-19 halftime lead and never looking back in a 74-54 victory. The Rebels then hit the road to take on Vanderbilt on Sunday, coming away with a 57-47 triumph and picking up their first win Nashville since 1987. After going 7-23 overall and 0-16 in SEC play just two years ago, Ole Miss is now 20-6 (8-5 SEC) on the season. They return to action on Tuesday evening, when they host Arkansas.
NCAA DII: Jim Connolly – Chestnut Hill College
Coach Connolly led Chestnut Hill to another pair of impressive victories this week, as the Griffins improved to 22-4 (15-1 CACC) on the season. Chestnut Hill picked up a huge 65-60 road win over Jefferson on Tuesday, sweeping the season series for the first time in program history and clinching a home playoff game in the process. Returning to the floor on Saturday, the Griffins held Wilmington to just three points in the third quarter of a 69-46 triumph. Chestnut Hill has now doubled its win total from its last season in action and won 16 of its last 17 games. The Griffins will host Georgian Court on Wednesday in their last regular season home game of the year.
NCAA DIII: Blake Arbogast – East Texas Baptist University
Coach Arbogast’s East Texas Baptist squad closed out the regular season on a high note this past week, picking up two more road victories – including one over a fellow Top-25 opponent. The then-No. 22 Tigers found themselves trailing Concordia (TX) 21-20 at halftime on Thursday before coming alive offensively in the second half to take a 65-54 triumph. ETBU then faced off against No. 14 Mary Hardin-Baylor, who entered the matchup unbeaten in conference play and riding a 20-game winning streak, in the regular season finale on Saturday afternoon. Thanks in large part to a 15-3 second quarter, the Tigers were able to come away with a stunning 71-57 victory. With a record of 19-4 (15-3 ASC) on the season, ETBU now heads into the ASC Tournament as the 2-seed and host, and will take on 7th-seeded Concordia in a quarterfinal matchup on Thursday.
NAIA: Taylor Possail – Columbia College (MO)
In his final regular season week of coaching, Coach Possail guided Columbia to three more hard-fought victories. The Cougars hosted Health Sciences on Tuesday, coming away with a 77-69 win before hitting the road for the final two games of the regular season. Columbia fended off a late comeback attempt by Central Baptist on Thursday, holding on for a 66-62 triumph. Back in action on Saturday, the Cougars led Williams Baptist by as many as 18 in a 79-74 win to close out the campaign with a record of 23-6 (16-2 AMC) in Coach Possail’s final season. The fastest coach in program history to reach 100 victories, Coach Possail is stepping away at the conclusion of the season in order to spend more time with his family. His squad has clinched the No. 2 seed in the AMC Tournament, and will host 7th-seeded Central Baptist in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
JUCO: Darryl Watkins – Rock Valley College
Coach Watkins led Rock Valley to the Region IV Tournament Championship this week, as his squad picked up a pair of huge victories. The 7th-ranked Golden Eagles first closed out the regular season with a 93-88 win over Milwaukee Area Technical College on Tuesday, before heading into the Region VI Tournament as the top seed. Rock Valley took down the College of Dupage by a score of 74-52 in the semifinals on Friday, advancing to take on 2nd-seeded Joliet Junior College the following afternoon. The Golden Eagles trailed late in the fourth quarter, but closed the contest on a 14-4 run over the final three minutes to come away with a 54-48 victory and capture the Region IV Championship. Rock Valley now advances to the NJCAA DIII Great Lakes Region Championship, where they will take on the Region 12 winner on Saturday.
2021-22 HoopDirt.com / Capital Elite Agency Coach of the Week Winners
NCAA DI: Anita Howard – Georgia Southern University
NCAA DII: Caleb and Nicole Neiman – Kentucky Wesleyan University
NCAA DIII: Courtney Burns – Mitchell College (CT)
NAIA: Janis Beal – The College of Idaho
JUCO: Mike Seney – CCBC Essex
NCAA DI: Shereka Wright – Texas Arlington
NCAA DII: Steve Gomez – Lubbock Christian University (TX)
NCAA DIII: Dan Nagle – Nichols College (MA)
NAIA: David Smalley – University of Rio Grande (OH)
JUCO: Stephanie Murphy – Coahoma CC (MS)
NCAA DI: Jose Fernandez – University of South Florida
NCAA DII: Steve Gomez – Carmen Dolfo – Western Washington University
NCAA DIII: Sasha Santimano – Bowdoin College
NAIA: Jeff Hans – Thomas More University
JUCO: Patrick Cunningham – Arizona Western College
NCAA DI: Ty Grace – Howard University
NCAA DII: Carrie Eighmey – University of Nebraska at Kearney
NCAA DIII: Brian Morehouse – Hope College
NAIA: Bryon Lawhorn – Bryan College
JUCO: Jeremy Thompson – Monroe College-Bronx
NCAA DI: Nell Fortner – Georgia Tech
NCAA DII: Emilee Thiesse – Minnesota State University, Mankato
NCAA DIII: Michelle Ferenz – Whitman College
NAIA: Jesse Ford – Indiana University Northwest
JUCO: Marbely Montas – Union County College
NCAA DI: Joni Taylor – University of Georgia
NCAA DII: Jason Burton – Texas A&M Commerce
NCAA DIII: Kole Vivian – Marietta College
NAIA: Courtney Boyd – Clarke University
JUCO: Rich Cooper – Rowan College South Jersey-Gloucester
NCAA DI: Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
NCAA DII: D2 winter break – no games played
NCAA DIII: Todd Kent – UC Santa Cruz
NAIA: Not enough games played (winter break + COVID cancellations)
JUCO: Not enough games played (winter break + COVID cancellations)
NCAA DI: Robin Pingeton – University of Missouri
NCAA DII: Michael Madrid – Texas A&M Kingsville
NCAA DIII: Deena Applebury – University of Mary Washington
NAIA: Dan Davis – Grace College
JUCO: James Frey – South Georgia Tech
NCAA DI: Wes Moore – North Carolina State University
NCAA DII: Tony Hobson – Fort Hays State University
NCAA DIII: Sarah Lombard – Hartwick College
NAIA: Hannah Moeller – Mid-American Christian University
JUCO: Penny Belford – Pensacola State College
NCAA DI: Jeff Walz – University of Louisville
NCAA DII: Cedric Baker – Savannah State University
NCAA DIII: Alison Montgomery – Bates College
NAIA: K.C. Basset – Sterling College
JUCO: Letitia Hughley – Mott Community College
NCAA DI: Kelly Rae Finley – University of Florida
NCAA DII: Jeri Porter – Francis Marion University
NCAA DIII: Mike Miller – Messiah University
NAIA: Anji Weissenfluh – Eastern Oregon University
JUCO: Stephen Perry – Owens Community College
NCAA DI: Niele Ivey – Notre Dame
NCAA DII: Kim Stephens – Glenville State College
NCAA DIII: Juli Fulks – Transylvania University
NAIA: Chad Folsom – Benedictine College (KS)
JUCO: Randy Rogers – College of Southern Idaho
NCAA DI: Jacie Hoyt – Kansas City
NCAA DII: Justin Payne – Georgia Southwestern State
NCAA DIII: Emily Garner – Trinity College
NAIA: Steve Brooks – Marian University
JUCO: Madonna Thompson – Shelton State CC
NCAA DI: Bandon Schneider – University of Kansas
NCAA DII: Kari Pickens – Ashland University
NCAA DIII: Bill Broderick – Christopher Newport University
NAIA: Danielle Fleming – Columbia International University
JUCO: Trenia Tillis Hoard – Tyler Junior College
All-time WHoopDirt.com Coach of the Year winners:
Division I
- 2020-21: Adia Barnes – University of Arizona
- 2019-20: Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Division II
- 2020-21: Steve Gomez – Lubbock Christian University (TX)
- 2019-20: Molly Miller – Drury University (MO)
Division III
- 2020-21: Brian Morehouse – Hope College (MI)
- 2019-20: Jill Pace – Tufts University (MA)
NAIA
- 2020-21: Kirsten Moore – Westmont College (CA)
- 2019-20: Chris Nelson – Bethel University (TN)
JUCO
- 2020-21: No winner named – COVID season
- 2019-20: Cayla Petree – South Plains College (TX)
Capital Elite Agency provides college basketball coaches in the country with counsel, advocacy, interview preparation, and contract negotiation. Our goal is to be a trusted agent and advisor for every step a college basketball coach takes throughout their professional journey. Visit us at www.capitaleliteagency.com to learn more about how we may be able to help you “Prepare to Advance” in your career.
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