By AJ Nelson, WHoopDirt.com staff writer
Congratulations to the following coaches who have been selected as the Week 9 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. Last 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 9 winners are:
NCAA DI: Jeff Walz – University of Louisville
In their first week as the No. 1 team in the country, Coach Walz’s squad picked up two conference victories to remain unbeaten on the season. The Cardinals used a strong defensive performance to take down No. 23 Syracuse by a score of 67-54 on Thursday. Louisville then traveled to take on Wake Forest on Sunday, and found themselves trailing by nine halfway through the fourth quarter. However, the Cardinals used a 14-2 run to retake the lead, and a three-point play with eight seconds remaining gave them a huge 65-63 victory. Now 14-0 (7-0 ACC) on the season, Louisville will host Miami on Tuesday afternoon.
NCAA DII: Kim Stephens – Glenville State College
Coach Stephens’ Lady Pioneers continued to showcase their high-powered offense with two more victories this week. No. 16 Glenville State took down Wheeling by a score of 123-74 on Wednesday, largely in part due to a 41-point second quarter. In their next contest, the Lady Pioneers held on late to secure a 101-98 victory on the road against West Liberty. Through six games, Glenville State is 5-1 and averaging 109.5 points per game. They return to action on Saturday, when they take on Fairmont State at home.
NCAA DIII: Katherine Menendez – Colorado College
Coach Menendez guided Colorado College to a pair of come-from-behind wins in their opening series this week. On Friday, CC trailed by eight with just under nine minutes remaining, but fought back to take a 57-55 victory over Trinity. In a rematch the following day, Colorado College again trailed in the fourth quarter, this time outscoring Trinity by eight in the final period to force overtime. The Tigers were able to come away with a 64-61 victory in the extra period to improve to 2-0 on the season. Their next contest comes against Southwestern in their home opener on Friday.
NAIA: Katie Gearlds – Marian University
Coach Gearlds’ led Marian to three more victories this week, extending the Knights’ winning streak to 11 games. No. 6 Marian took down Huntington 80-46 on Tuesday before knocking off Bethel 105-68 on Thursday. They capped off the week with a home contest against No. 23 Indiana Wesleyan. Marian’s 74-63 victory improved their record to 17-4 (10-0 Crossroads) on the season. The Knights’ last loss came almost two months ago, on November 28th. They will look to remain unbeaten in conference play when they face off against Grace on Wednesday.
JUCO: Chad Gibney – Western Nebraska Community College
Coach Gibney’s squad kicked off their season this week with three victories coming by an average of 62 points. No. 15 Western Nebraska defeated Central Wyoming by a score of 101-49 on Wednesday before taking down Western Wyoming 79-32 on Friday. In a rematch with Central Wyoming on Saturday, the Cougars took a 115-28 victory to move to 3-0 on the season. Western Nebraska returns to action on Tuesday evening, when they face off against Eastern Wyoming at home.
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
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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