By AJ Nelson, WHoopDirt.com staff writer
Congratulations to the following coaches who have been selected as the Week 16 WHoopDirt.com Coach of the Week presented by Pivot Analysis. These coaches are now eligible to receive the WHoopDirt.com National Coach of the Year Award presented by Pivot Analysis which will be announced at the conclusion of the 2020-21 college basketball season.
This is the second season that HoopDirt.com and Pivot Analysis have run the Coach of the Week and Coach of the Year programs. This season’s weekly winners, and COY winners can be found following this weeks honorees.
This season will be a bit different, however. As college basketball adjusts to life with COVID, so will we. Not every level will be honored on a weekly basis – we will honor as many of the levels as possible provided enough games are played. It’s different than in the past, but we still hope to have enough weekly winners at each level to name a Coach of the Year (NCAA DI, D2, D3, NAIA, and JUCO) at the end of the season
To nominate coaches for future weeks, please email [email protected] with your selection(s).
The Week 16 winners are:
NCAA DI: Gerald Mattinson – University of Wyoming
Coach Mattinson’s Wyoming squad ran through the Mountain West Tournament this past week, earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The Cowgirls entered the Mountain West Tournament as the 7-seed and won their first three games by double digits, including a 72-56 victory over 2nd-seeded UNLV. Wyoming then faced 4th-seeded Fresno State in the championship, coming away with a hard-fought 56-53 victory to claim the title. The Cowgirls have now won six straight contests, and, having earned a 14-seed in the NCAA Tournament, will face off against 3rd-seeded UCLA in the Round of 64 on Monday.
NCAA DII: Kevin Clifford – Roberts Wesleyan College
Coach Clifford guided the Redhawks to a Sweet 16 appearance in the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament this past week. Roberts Wesleyan, the 5-seed in its region, defeated 4th-seeded American International 75-61 on Friday, setting up a matchup with regional top-seed Dominican. The Redhawks came away with a thrilling 77-74 double overtime victory, extending their winning streak to nine and advancing to the Sweet 16. Their surprise run came to an end on Monday, as they were defeated by 2nd-seeded Daemen in a rematch of the ECC Championship game. Roberts Wesleyan closes out the shortened season with a record of 12-7.
NCAA DIII: Travis Ponton – Bryn Athyn College
Playing with only seven players due to COVID protocols and injuries, Coach Ponton led Bryn Athyn to an impressive road sweep this past weekend. The Lions’ stifling defense held Wesley to 40 points in both games, as Bryn Athyn won 61-40 on Friday, and 58-40 on Saturday. Across the two contests, the Lions forced over 60 turnovers. These two victories marked the first of the year for Bryn Athyn, which now sits at 2-4 on the season. They close out the shortened season next weekend, when they face off against Washington College in a two-game road series.
NAIA: Amanda Short – Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Coach Short piloted Mount Vernon Nazarene to its first ever NAIA National Tournament victories this past week, earning a spot at the Tournament’s Final Site. The Lady Cougars, who entered the Tournament at 15-11, found themselves in an Opening Round group with 16-1 LSU Shreveport and 13-0 Wayland Baptist. After taking a 73-58 victory over LSU Shreveport in the Opening Round semifinals, MVNU knocked off Wayland Baptist by a score of 77-74 to advance to the Round of 16. As the No. 16 seed, the Lady Cougars will try to continue their shocking run when they face off against No. 1 Thomas More on Thursday afternoon.
JUCO: Taylor Harris – Miles Community College
Coach Harris’ squad picked up three more resounding wins this week to remain undefeated on the season. The Pioneers, who entered the week ranked 25th in the NJCAA DI Top 25 Poll, swept a two-game series with United Tribes Technical College, taking a 75-57 victory on Thursday before cruising to a 100-69 triumph the following day. Miles capped off the week with a 94-64 victory on the road over Bismarck State. Now ranked No. 23 in the latest poll, the 20-0 Pioneers will look to stay hot when they take on Lake Region State on Monday.
2020-21 HoopDirt.com / Just Play Solutions Coach of the Week Winners
NCAA DI: Mike Carey – West Virginia University
NCAA DII: Nate Vogel – Texas A&M International University
NCAA DIII: No week 1 winner awarded
NAIA: Jessie Biggs – Indiana Institute of Technology
JUCO: No week 1 winner awarded
NCAA DI: Adia Barnes – University of Arizona
NCAA DII: Jason Williams – Belmont Abbey College (NC)
NCAA DIII: Blake Arbogast – East Texas Baptist University
NAIA: Krista Van Hauen – St. Ambrose University (IA)
JUCO: No week 2 winner awarded
NCAA DI: Amy Vachon – University of Maine
NCAA DII: Lora Westling – Western Colorado University
NCAA DIII: Polly Thomason – University of Texas Dallas
NAIA: Megan Leuzinger – Evangel University (MO)
JUCO: No week 3 winner awarded
NCAA DI: Aaron Johnston – South Dakota State University
NCAA DII: Tanya Haave – Metropolitan State University of Denver
NCAA DIII: No week 4 winner awarded
NAIA: Ginger High Colvin – Campbellsville University (KY)
JUCO: No week 4 winner awarded
NCAA DI: Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
NCAA DII: No winner – mandatory DII winter break
NCAA DIII: No week 5 winner awarded
NAIA: Jeff Hans – Thomas More University (KY)
JUCO: No week 5 winner awarded
NCAA DI: Kyra Elzy – University of Kentucky
NCAA DII: No week 6 winner awarded
NCAA DIII: Cassi Rozanski – LeTourneau University (TX)
NAIA: Grady Morrell – Webber International University (FL)
JUCO: No week 6 winner awarded
NCAA DI: Seton Sobolewski – Idaho State University
NCAA DII: Carrie Eighney – University of Nebraska Kearney
NCAA DIII: No week 7 winner awarded
NAIA: Courtney Boyd – Clarke University (IA)
JUCO: No week 7 winner awarded
NCAA DI: Bill Fennelly – Iowa State University
NCAA DII: Meagan Price – Tusculum University (TN)
NCAA DIII: Rodney Rogan – Rhodes College (TN)
NAIA: Jamie Sale – Morningside College (IA)
JUCO: No week 7 winner awarded
NCAA DI: Jeff Walz – University of Louisville
NCAA DII: Kim Stephens – Glenville State College (WVa)
NCAA DIII: Katherine Menendez – Colorado College
NAIA: Katie Gearlds – Marian University (IN)
JUCO: Chad Gibney – Western Nebraska CC
NCAA DI: Lisa Fortier – Gonzaga University
NCAA DII: Kari Hoffman – Cedarville University (OH)
NCAA DIII: Beth Andrews – John Carroll University (OH)
NAIA: Kellie Kennedy – Loyola University – New Orleans
JUCO: Mercedes Corona – Arkansas State University Mid-South
NCAA DI: Jarrod Olson – Cal Baptist University
NCAA DII: Toby Winn – Emporia State University (KS)
NCAA DIII: Brian Morehouse – Hope College (MI)
NAIA: Ericka Stuckman – University of Mobile (AL)
JUCO: Karrie Redeker – Illinois Central College
NCAA DI: Geno Auriemma – UConn
NCAA DII: Jasmina Perazic – Georgian Court University (NJ)
NCAA DIII: Kent Madsen – Wheaton College (IL)
NAIA: K.C. Bassett – Sterling College (KS)
JUCO: Jim Turgeon – Independence College (KS)
NCAA DI: Katie Abrahamson-Henderson – Central Florida
NCAA DII: Emma Andrews – Cameron University (OK)
NCAA DIII: Darrin Travillian – Maryville College (TN)
NAIA: Kirsten Moore – Westmont College (CA)
JUCO: Mike Russell – Snow College (UT)
NCAA DI: Ronald Hughey – University of Houston
NCAA DII: Steve Gomez – Lubbock Christian University
NCAA DIII: Karin Harvey – Montclair State University (NJ)
NAIA: Tim Hays – Southeastern University (FL)
JUCO: Greg Franklin – Chipola College (FL)
NCAA DI: Mark Kellogg – Stephen F. Austin
NCAA DII: Buffie Burson – University of North Georgia
NCAA DIII: Brian Niemuth – Simpson College (IA)
NAIA: Tracy Stewart-Lange – Lyon College (AR)
JUCO: Missy Bilderback – Jones College (MS)
2019-20 WHoopDirt.com / Pivot Analysis Coach of the Year Award Winners:
Division I
- 2019-20: Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Division II
- 2019-20: Molly Miller – Drury University (MO)
Division III
- 2019-20: Jill Pace – Tufts University (MA)
NAIA
- 2019-20: Chris Nelson – Bethel University (TN)
JUCO
- 2019-20: Cayla Petree – South Plains College (TX)
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