By AJ Nelson, WHoopDirt.com staff writer
Congratulations to the following coaches who have been selected as the Week 11 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 11 winners are:
NCAA DI: Kelly Rae Finley – University of Florida
Coach Finley has guided Florida to five straight SEC wins, including two over ranked opponents this past week. The Gators kicked off their week at then-No. 23 Kentucky on Thursday, dominating from start to finish in an 77-52 victory. Back at home on Sunday, Florida was able to take down No. 11 LSU in a 73-72 nail-biter, marking the first time since the 2015-16 campaign that the Gators knocked off three Top 25 teams in a season. In addition, Florida’s five consecutive SEC wins mark the program’s longest streak since the 2008-09 season. The Gators received votes in the latest Top 25 poll, and will look for a huge victory on Sunday afternoon, when they host top-ranked South Carolina.
NCAA DII: Jeri Porter – Francis Marion University
Coach Porter picked up her 300th career win this week as Francis Marion picked up three impressive road victories. The Patriots’ first win of the week – a 60-56 triumph at Erskine on Wednesday – marked the milestone for Coach Porter, who has also served as head coach at North Alabama, Radford, and George Mason. Returning to action on Friday, Francis Marion used a 17-3 fourth quarter run to pull away from North Greenville and take a 91-77 victory. The Patriots concluded their three-game road trip with an 86-64 triumph over Converse on Saturday. Now 8-6 (7-5 CC), Francis Marion will aim for its fifth consecutive victory when it faces off against UNC Pembroke at home on Wednesday evening.
NCAA DIII: Mike Miller – Messiah University
This past week was one to remember for Coach Miller, as he picked up his 700th career victory and his Falcons jumped into the Top 25 in the latest D3hoops.com poll. Messiah outscored Widener 27-6 in the second quarter on the way to a 77-53 win on Monday, before hitting the road to take on Hood on Wednesday. The Patriots put on a defensive showcase, limiting the hosts to just eight first-half points (two in the second quarter) in a 70-34 triumph. This victory marked No. 700 in Coach Miller’s incredible head coaching career, which spans 36 years – all at Messiah. With a 77-37 win over Eastern on Saturday, Miller now holds a career record of 701-244 (.742). His Patriots have taken over the No. 23 spot in the most recent D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll, and return to the floor on Wednesday, when they match up against Albright on the road.
NAIA: Anji Weissenfluh – Eastern Oregon University
Coach Weissenfluh guided Eastern Oregon to a pair of closely-contested home victories this week, as the Mountaineers extended their winning streak to six. Eastern Oregon outrebounded Oregon Tech by 16 in a back-and-forth 79-75 overtime win on Friday, prior to hosting Southern Oregon the following day. The Mountaineers trailed by four entering the fourth quarter, but put on a strong performance over the final 10 minutes to come away with a 68-65 victory. With the win, Coach Weissenfluh is now just 11 away from 500 in her career. Her Mountaineers are 14-7 (11-2 CCC) on the season, and take on the College of Idaho later this evening.
JUCO: Stephen Perry – Owens Community College
Coach Perry’s top-ranked Owens Community College squad dominated defensively this week, picking up three victories by at least 30 points. On Wednesday, the Express forced Lorain County to turn the ball over 32 times on the way to a dominant 88-44 win. Owens put on defensive clinics in its next two games as well, turning Clark State over 35 times in an 84-48 victory on Thursday, and forcing 32 more in a 65-35 triumph over Terra State on Saturday. Now 16-2 on the season, the Express have won all but three of their contests by double-digits. They will look to continue their strong play in a rematch with Clark State on Wednesday evening.
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
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.
Capital Elite Agency Social Media Handles:
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Instagram: @capitaleliteagency
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