By AJ Nelson, WHoopDirt.com staff writer
Congratulations to the following coaches who have been selected as the Week 8 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 8 winners are:
NCAA DI: Robin Pingeton – University of Missouri
Coach Pingeton and Missouri picked up a historic win this week, taking down the No. 1 team in the nation on a last second layup in overtime. The Tigers entered Thursday’s matchup against top-ranked South Carolina with just eight players available due to COVID protocols, but held a six point lead at the half. Though South Carolina was able to force overtime, junior guard Lauren Hansen knocked down a layup with 0.1 seconds remaining in the extra period to propel Mizzou to a stunning 70-69 victory. The win marked Missouri’s first ever against a No. 1 ranked opponent (0-8 previously). Now 12-2 (1-0 SEC) on the season, the Tigers will look to extend their winning streak to five when they host Auburn on Thursday night.
NCAA DII: Michael Madrid – Texas A&M University – Kingsville
Coach 
Madrid’s first win over a ranked opponent with the Javelinas was a big one, as his squad took down the top-ranked team in the country this week. TAMUK came into Friday’s showdown with No. 1 Lubbock Christian on a two-game losing streak, but led the defending National Champions by as many as 22 en route to a dominant 59-42 triumph. This victory marked the first time in program history that TAMUK defeated a No. 1 ranked foe, and the 42 points that LCU was limited to marked their lowest total since January 2, 2010. Back in action on Sunday, the Javelinas carried the momentum from their previous win into a matchup with Eastern New Mexico, jumping out to an early lead and never looking back in a 63-51 victory. Now 8-4 (2-0 LSC) on the season, TAMUK returns to the floor on Friday, when they travel to take on Western New Mexico in their first road contest in conference play.
NCAA DIII: Deena Applebury – University of Mary Washington
Coach Applebury’s Eagles put on a defensive showcase this week, holding opponents to fewer than 53 points in all three of their victories. UMW opened the week at the Montclair State Holiday Tournament, defeating Misericordia by a score of 68-52 in the opening round. Taking on the hosts in the championship game, UMW held Montclair State to just 24.6% from the field en route to a 56-44 triumph. The Eagles headed to another tournament on Sunday, as they faced off against then-No. 19 Gettysburg at the Moravian University Tournament. UMW’s defense was stellar again, limiting Gettysburg to just 12 first-half points in a 55-35 victory. After another win to close out the tournament yesterday, the Eagles are now 13-1 on the season and ranked No. 22 in the nation. They will try to extend their winning streak to nine when they take on Stevenson on the road on next Monday.
NAIA: Dan Davis – Grace College
With two 
impressive victories at the Keiser New Year’s Classic this week, Coach Davis’ Lady Lancers reached the 10-win mark on the season. In the Classic’s opening game, Grace jumped out to a 48-20 halftime lead over Webber International on the way to a dominant 77-54 win. Facing the hosts in their next game, the Lady Lancers led by as many as 17, but fended off a late Keiser comeback attempt to come away with a 62-58 victory. Now 10-5 on the season, Grace’s next contest comes on the road against No. 11 Indiana Wesleyan on Wednesday night.
JUCO: James Frey – South Georgia Tech
Coach 
Frey guided South Georgia Tech to three wins in three days at the Lady Jets Holiday Classic this week. Then-No. 16 South Georgia Tech came away with a dominant victory in the opening game of the Classic, holding Tallahassee Community College to just two points in the second quarter in a 69-45 triumph. Returning to action the following day, the Lady Jets jumped out to another early lead and never looked back, taking down Lawson State Community College by a score of 75-51. South Georgia Tech closed out the Classic with a much closer victory, needing overtime to come away with a thrilling 88-85 victory over No. 19 Gulf Coast State. The 14-4 Lady Jets moved up two spots to No. 14 in the latest NJCAA DI Top 25 Poll, and next face off against Central Georgia Tech on the road on Wednesday.
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)
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.
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