Story: Adam Nelson (@HD_DirtKing)
Congratulations to the following coaches who have been selected as the Week 6 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 2023-24 college basketball season.
This is the fifth season that WHoopDirt.com has run the Coach of the Week and Coach of the Year programs. The list of 2023-24 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 6 winners are:
D1: Anthony Bozzella – Seton Hall
Weekly record (overall): 2-0 (8-3)
Past week’s results: 67-27 W vs FDU, 84-54 W vs #23 UNLV
Highlights: Bozzella and his Seton Hall squad opened the week by hammering visiting FDU 67-27. The Pirates held the Knights to just 5 points in three of the four quarters, and the 27 points allowed were the fewest in program history during the NCAA era. The Pirates then beat #23 UNLV by 30, which was the largest margin of victory over a ranked opponent in program history. Seton Hall is currently on a four game winning streak, and are 7-0 at home on the season.
NCAA D2: Kurt Westendorp – Ferris State University
Weekly record (overall): 1-0 (6-1)
Past week’s results: 66-62 W at #1 Ashland
Highlights: Only one game on the docket last week for #10 Ferris State, but it was a big one. The Bulldogs went on the road and knocked off the #1 team in the nation Ashland 66-62. Ferris State was held to just four points in the third quarter, and found themselves down by nine entering the final period. The Bulldogs then out scored the defending D2 National Champs 28-15 in the last ten minutes to snap Ashland’s 45-game winning streak. The win also broke AU’s 22-game home winning streak.
NCAA D3: Hannah Iverson – UW-Stout
Weekly record (overall): 2-0 (9-1)
Past week’s results: 72-48 W vs Univ. of Northwestern, 77-76 W at #17 Trine
Highlights: Iverson’s Blue Devils opened their game on Tuesday vs Northwestern on a 17-2 run and never looked back en route to a 72-48 win. UW-Stout then traveled to #17 Trine on Saturday, where they found themselves down 8 with 2:48 left in the game. The Blue Devils then scored the final nine points of the game, including knocking down a jumper with 3.4 seconds left to seal the upset. 9-1 Stout is now on a seven game winning streak
NAIA: Kevin Herod – Langston University
Weekly record (overall): 2-0 (9-1)
Past week’s results: 771-58 W vs UNT Dallas, 111-31 W vs Central Christian College
Highlights: A 23-11 fourth quarter propelled the Lady Lions to 71-58 win vs North Texas Dallas to open the week on Monday. LU then pounded SAC foe Central Christian 111-31 on Thursday, holding the visitors to under double figures in scoring in each period. The blow out win was also a milestone for Herod, as he picked up the 200th victory of his career. Langston is now a perfect 5-0 at home on the season, and riding a three game winning streak.
JUCO: Darryl Watkins – Rock Valley College
Weekly record (overall): 3-0 (16-0)
Past week’s results: 94-64 W vs Highland CC, 80-51 W vs #9 Lake Land, 77-50 W vs Wayne County
Highlights: The #5 ranked NJCAA D2 Golden Eagles continued to soar last week, as they picked up three more wins and remained unbeaten (16-0) on the season. After smacking Highland CC at home on Tuesday, RVC headed to the Panther Holiday Classic in Lake Worth, FL for two weekend games. They knocked off NJCAA D2 #9 Lake Land in their opening game, and then beat Wayne County by 27 to complete the sweep in Florida. On the season, Rock Valley is averaging 89.8 ppg while allowing just 53.9 ppg (35.9 ppg margin of victory).
NCAA DI: Larry Vickers – Norfolk State University
NCAA DII: Megan Dzikas – Florida Southern College
NCAA DIII: Meg Barber – NYU
NAIA: Bill Harmsen – Dordt University
JUCO: MJ Baker – Northwest Florida State College
NCAA DI: Nicki Collen – Baylor University
NCAA DII: John Nakpodia – University of District Columbia
NCAA DIII: Christin Gowan – McDaniel College
NAIA: Jeff Nickel – Georgetown College (KY)
JUCO: Kori Stephenson – Mesa CC
NCAA DI: Wes Moore – North Carolina State
NCAA DII: Tom Shirley – Thomas Jefferson University
NCAA DIII: Juli Fulks – Transylvania University
NAIA: Ginger High Colvin – Campbellsville University
JUCO: Erika Harris – Moberly Area CC
NCAA DI: Joye Lee-McNelis – Southern Miss
NCAA DII: Anna Kowalska – Wheeling University
NCAA DIII: Kelly Thompson – Roger Williams University
NAIA: DeWitte Mandley – Wiley University
JUCO: Mike Helmer – Butler Community College
NCAA DI: Jason Burton – University of North Texas
NCAA DII: Will Brown – College of St. Rose
NCAA DIII: Kate Vlahakis – Manhattanville College
NAIA: Ethan Whaley – Indiana Wesleyan University
JUCO: Bob McKinley – Weatherford College
Previous WHoopDirt.com / Pivot Analysis 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
