Story: AJ Nelson, Senior Staff Writer, WHoopDirt.com
BOSTON, MA – The following women’s college basketball coaches have been honored with the Week 14 WHoopDirt.com Coach of the Week Award, presented by FastBreak PlayBook. These coaches are now eligible for the prestigious WHoopDirt.com National Coach of the Year Award, presented by FastBreak PlayBook, which will be announced at the conclusion of the 2024-25 college basketball season.
This year, WHoopDirt.com has partnered with FastBreak PlayBook to bring even more value to the Coach of the Week program. As part of the collaboration, each weekly winner will receive a complimentary Full-Team Annual Membership to the FastBreak PlayBook platform.
“FastBreak PlayBook is very excited to partner with WhoopDirt for the Coach of the Week Award. We are passionate about bringing a spotlight to deserving women’s basketball coaches and look forward to providing a free Full-Team Annual Membership to each winner.” – Kendall Acho, Chief Operating Officer
This marks the fifth season of WHoopDirt.com’s Coach of the Week and Coach of the Year programs. The list of 2024-25 weekly winners, as well as the all-time COY recipients can be found below this week’s release.
To nominate coaches for future weeks, please email [email protected] with your selection(s).
The Week 14 winners are:
D1: Cori Close – University of California, Los Angeles
Coach Close led UCLA to another pair of double-digit victories this week as the Bruins continued to make program history. The top-ranked Bruins began their week with a 65-52 victory over then-No. 8 Ohio State on Wednesday, setting a new program record for most consecutive wins at 22. UCLA would go on to extend that streak on Sunday, defeating Oregon 62-52 on the road. Now 23-0 (11-0 Big 10) on the season, the Bruins have won 22 in a row by double-digits. They will look to continue their dominant season when they face off against No. 6 USC on the road on Thursday.
NCAA D2: Lenise Stallings – Chowan University
Coach Stallings’ Hawks put on a pair of strong defensive performances this week as they extended their winning streak to six. On Wednesday, Chowan held Mount Olive to single-digit point totals in three quarters en route to a 51-42 road victory. The Hawks then returned home for a matchup against Shorter in what would be a battle of the top two teams in the Conference Carolinas. The Hawks put on another stellar defensive performance, holding Shorter to just 25.5% from the field en route to a 57-49 triumph. Now 15-2 (12-2 CC) on the season, Chowan will look to make it seven straight wins when they travel to take on UNC Pembroke on Wednesday evening.
NCAA D3: Rodney Rogan – Johns Hopkins University
Coach Rogan guided Johns Hopkins to two hard-fought victories this week as the Blue Jays continued their dominant run in conference play. Then-No. 20 Johns Hopkins opened the week with a top-20 showdown, hosting then-No. 9 Gettysburg on Wednesday. The Blue Jays came away victorious in a defensive battle, picking up a 59-51 win and avenging their only conference loss of the season. Back in action on Saturday, Johns Hopkins defeated Ursinus 66-60 to extend its winning streak to nine. Now 18-3 (10-1 Centennial), the Blue Jays moved up to No. 18 in the latest D3hoops.com Top 25 rankings. They will look to make it 10 wins in a row when they visit McDaniel on Wednesday.
NAIA: Kellie Kennedy – Loyola University New Orleans
Coach Kennedy’s Wolf Pack played well when it mattered most this week, winning a pair of games with last-minute comebacks. Loyola trailed Blue Mountain Christian by four with under a minute remaining at home on Thursday, but rallied to come away with a 75-73 victory in regulation. On the road at Faulkner on Saturday, the Wolf Pack found themselves in the exact same position – trailing by four with under a minute remaining. Again, Loyola was able to fight back and win in regulation, this time picking up a 70-68 win. Now 16-9 (10-4 SSAC) on the season, the Wolf Pack will look to extend their winning streak to five when they host Mobile on Thursday evening.
JUCO: Alex Wiggs – Three Rivers College
Coach Wiggs led Three Rivers to three more wins this week as the Lady Raiders improved to 21-2 on the season. On Monday, Three Rivers out-rebounded Crowder 46-29 en route to an 89-67 home victory. Back in action on Wednesday, the Lady Raiders used a big fourth quarter to pull away from State Fair Community College and take a 62-51 triumph. Three Rivers then closed out its week with an 80-47 victory over Mineral Area, who the Lady Raiders had beaten by just four earlier in the season. Their next contest will come at home against Jefferson on Saturday afternoon.
2024-25 WHoopDirt.com / FastBreak PlayBook Coach of the Week Winners
Week 1
Early season – no winners selected.
NCAA DI: Kenny Brooks – University of Kentucky
NCAA DII: Buffie Burson – University of North Georgia
NCAA DIII: Laurie Kelly – Gustavus Adolphus College
NAIA: Bill Harmsen – Dordt University
JUCO: Mike Seney – CCBC Essex
NCAA DI: Geno Auriemma – UConn
NCAA DII: Danielle Fleming – PennWest Clarion
NCAA DIII: Lindsay Schultz – Carroll University
NAIA: Hannah Moeller – Mid-American Christian University
JUCO: Austin Mefford – New Mexico Junior College
NCAA DI: Kara Lawson – Duke University
NCAA DII: Rick Neumann – University of Mary
NCAA DIII: Mia Smith – Illinois Wesleyan University
NAIA: NaJarius Green – Columbia College
JUCO: John Ontjes – Hutchinson Community College
NCAA DI: Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
NCAA DII: Kari Kerkhoff – McKendree University
NCAA DIII: Meg Barber – New York University
NAIA: Adam Hocking – Clarke University
JUCO: Jamie Fisher – Florida SouthWestern State College
Week 6
NCAA DI: Vanessa Blair-Lewis – George Mason University
NCAA DII: Emry Tsitouris – Mars Hill University
NCAA DIII: Megan Phelps – Bowdoin College
NAIA: Alico Dunk – Stillman College
JUCO: Nate Beutel – SUNY Niagara
Week 7
Winter Break – No winners selected.
Week 8
Winter Break – No winners selected.
NCAA DI: Karen Aston – University of Texas at San Antonio
NCAA DII: John Bonner – California State University, Dominguez Hills
NCAA DIII: Katherine Auguste – Colorado College
NAIA: Carlotta Kloppenburg-Pruitt – Southern Oregon University
JUCO: Jessica Eaton – Florida State College at Jacksonville
NCAA DI: Charmin Smith – University of California, Berkeley
NCAA DII: Lisa Wilson – Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
NCAA DIII: Cheri Harrer – Baldwin-Wallace University
NAIA: Bo Browder – Xavier University of Louisiana
JUCO: Bart Walker – Northwest Florida State College
NCAA DI: Vernette Skeete – Texas Southern University
NCAA DII: Matt Houser – Columbus State University
NCAA DIII: Brad Fischer – University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
NAIA: Chris Vincent – Langston University
JUCO: Marbely Montas – Union College (NJ)
Week 12
NCAA DI: Kevin McGuff – Ohio State University
NCAA DII: Courtney Boyd – Quincy University
NCAA DIII: James Boney – Rutgers University-Camden
NAIA: Rick Reeves – University of the Cumberlands
JUCO: Mitch Rolls – Chipola College
NCAA DI: Chelsea Lyles – Florida Gulf Coast University
NCAA DII: Mike Williams – Grand Valley State University
NCAA DIII: Lindsey Burke-Eberhart – Randolph-Macon College
NAIA: Ethan Whaley – Indiana Wesleyan University
JUCO: Misty Opat – Cochise College
Previous Coach of the Year Award Winners:
Division I
- 2022-23: Kenny Brooks – Virginia Tech University
- 2021-22: Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
- 2020-21: Adia Barnes – University of Arizona
- 2019-20: Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Division II
- 2022-23: Kari Pickens – Ashland University
- 2021-22: Kim Stephens – Glenville State College
- 2020-21: Steve Gomez – Lubbock Christian University
- 2019-20: Molly Miller – Drury University
Division III
- 2022-23: Juli Fulks – Transylvania University
- 2021-22: Brian Morehouse – Hope College
- 2020-21: Brian Morehouse – Hope College
- 2019-20: Jill Pace – Tufts University
NAIA
- 2022-23: Courtney Boyd – Clarke University
- 2021-22: Jeff Hans – Thomas More College
- 2020-21: Kirsten Moore – Westmont College
- 2019-20: Chris Nelson – Bethel University
JUCO
- 2022-23: Mike Seney – CCBC Essex
- 2021-22: Trenia Tillis Hoard – Tyler Junior College
- 2020-21: No winner named – COVID season
- 2019-20: Cayla Petree – South Plains College
FastBreak PlayBook provides coaches with a database of plays drawn by professional and college level coaches with coaching points and player assignments. All plays are editable to fit your system or you can quickly draw your own with their custom-built play drawing tool. Additional features allow coaches to create practice schedules, scouting reports, as well as integrate and distribute video to their team directly with the mobile team app.
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