WEEK 8: WHoopDirt.com Coach of the Week presented by Pivot Analysis

Story: Adam Nelson (@HD_DirtKing)

Congratulations to the following coaches who have been selected as the Week 8 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 8 winners are:

D1: Cori Close – UCLA

Weekly record (overall): 1-0 (12-0)

Past week’s results: 71-64 W vs #5 USC

Highlights: The #2 ranked Bruins handed #5 USC their first loss of the season with a 71-64 victory on Saturday in front of a sell out crowd of 13,659 at Pauley Pavilion. UCLA prevented the Trojans (10-1) from scoring a field goal in the first 8:13 of the game, but USC would claw back and cut the game to 1 by halftime. The Bruins would then go on a 12-2 run coming out of the half, and wouldn’t look back to secure their first PAC-12 win of the season. Through their first 12 games, the Bruins are out scoring their opponents by 28.5 ppg, and out rebounding their opponents by 20.1 caroms per contest.

NCAA D2: Mike Williams – Grand Valley State University

Weekly record (overall): 1-0 (10-1)

Past week’s results: 127-45 W vs Rochester

Highlights: The #1 ranked D2 in the country set a program record for points as they dropped 127 in their only game of the week. The Lakers are now 7-0 at home this year, and on a three game winning streak. On the season, they are holding opponents to just 49.7 ppg while allowing them to shoot just 34% from the field. GVSU’s only loss of the season came at Big Ten member Ohio State on 12/15.

NCAA D3: Randi Henderson – Washington University in St. Louis

Weekly record (overall): 2-0 (7-4)

Past week’s results: 67-60 W vs UW-River Falls, 72-46 W vs #7 Wartburg

Highlights: Henderson’s squad had a great weekend, as they captured the Wartburg Tournament, knocking off a Top 10 team in the process. In game 1, WashU came out fast, taking a 25-7 first quarter lead over UW-River Falls (9-2), and holding on for a 67-60 win. The next day, held D3 #7 Wartburg to just 25.9% shooting, forced 16 turnovers, and held the Knights to a season low 46 points in the Top 10 upset.

NAIA: Dennis Hutter – Mayville State

Weekly record (overall): 2-0 (11-2)

Past week’s results: 111-72 W vs Haskell, 88-52 W vs #23 Ozarks

Highlights: A 2-0 week for the #18 Comets, as they are now on a six game winning streak, and have pushed their overall record to 11-2. On Friday in the Bellevue Classic, Mayville scored their most points in six seasons en route to a 111-72 win vs Haskell. The next day, in a Top 25 match-up, the Comets knocked off #23 College of the Ozarks 88-52, snapping the Bobcats six game winning streak. In that game, MSU outscored Ozarks 36-3 from the three point line.

JUCO: Jamarra Robinson – Indian River State College

Weekly record (overall): 2-0 (10-3)

Past week’s results: 79-68 W vs DME, 57-52 W vs Bishop State

Highlights: Robinson’s Pioneers won both games in their New Year’s Classic to move to 10-3 on the season. With those two wins, IRSC extended their winning streak to 8, and now sport a perfect 6-0 record at home on the season. They also went 7-0 in the month of December and are 4-0 in conference play.

Week 1

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

Week 2

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

Week 3

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

Week 4

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

Week 5

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

Week 6

NCAA DI: Anthony Bozzella – Seton Hall
NCAA DII: Kurt Westendorp – Ferris State University
NCAA DIII: Hannah Iverson – UW-Stout
NAIA: Kevin Herod – Langston University
JUCO: Darryl Watkins – Rock Valley College

Week 7

NCAA DI: Christmas Holiday – no winner selected
NCAA DII: Christmas Holiday – no winner selected
NCAA DIII: Christmas Holiday – no winner selected
NAIA: Christmas Holiday – no winner selected
JUCO: Christmas Holiday – no winner selected

Previous WHoopDirt.com / Pivot Analysis Coach of the Year Award Winners:

Division I

Division II

Division III

NAIA

JUCO

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