After leading the No. 10-ranked University of Michigan women’s basketball team to a 13-4 conference record and 22 regular-season wins, head coach Kim Barnes Arico was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year by the coaches and media, with Naz Hillmon becoming Michigan’s first-ever four-time All-Big Ten first-teamer as announced by the conference Tuesday (March 1). Hillmon also grabbed a spot on the all-defensive team, with Leigha Brown being named to the second team and Laila Phelia to the all-freshman team.
It is the second Coach of the Year honor for KBA, who also earned the nod in 2017. Michigan’s 13 Big Ten wins is tied for the most in program history, with the 22 regular-season wins also tied for the most. U-M is currently ranked No. 10 in the Associated Press poll and was the No. 8 national seed in last night’s (Feb. 28) NCAA Tournament reveal. Barnes Arico is the first coach in program history to earn the nod from the conference twice.
