Tweet
ABILENE - Abilene Christian's Julie Goodenough last week received her third award of the spring when introduced as the TABC's NCAA Division I Women's College Coach of the Year. Her 2015-16 Wildcats won the Southland Conference regular-season championship behind an overall record of 26-4 and qualified for the program's first WNIT postseason appearance.
Texas Tech's Tubby Smith was voted DI Men's College Coach of the Year, while Midwestern State's Nelson Haggerty and Lubbock Christian's Steve Gomez were recognized for their successes at the small college level. Junior College Coach of the Year honors went to Ranger's Billy Gillispie and Blinn's Jeff Jenkins.
Goodenough took home the Southland's Coach of the Year trophy earlier this year after posting a near-perfect 17-1 record against the league in ACU's third season as a DI program. The Rotary Club of Abilene then recognized her in April as its Chuck Moser Coach of the Year, putting her name alongside previous winners Hunter Cooley, Barbara Crousen and LeAnn Thomsen.
"There are 23 NCAA DI women's basketball coaches in Texas, so it was an absolute honor to even be considered for this award," said Goodenough. "This is a state that emphasizes basketball and there are great coaches at every level from DI down to high school … not only was I surprised to win, I was excited and thrilled to be asked to speak at this tremendous event."
Goodenough was notified of her award Saturday prior to her TABC Convention talk about culture building at ACU and the Wildcats' motion offense. Other women's basketball coaches invited to speak at the San Antonio-based conference included SMU's Travis Mays, Syracuse's Quentin Hillsman and West Virginia's Mike Carey.
The Wildcats' begin their 2016-17 season the weekend of Nov. 11 as one of 16 teams in the Preseason WNIT. Game times and opponents for this prestigious event will be announced in the coming weeks.
ACU returns four starters from last year's team, including Southland Conference Player of the Year Alexis Mason and all-conference honorees Suzzy Dimba and Sydney Shelstead. Lizzy Dimba, who missed the final seven games of last season with an injury, is expected to be healthy in time for the start of her senior season and will help prepare and mentor a class of five talented newcomers: Dominique Golightly, Pam Herrera, Lexi Kirgan, Taudenciah Oluoch and Brea Wright.
The Wildcats also bring back key reserves in junior Sierra Allen and sophomores McKenzie Martin and Sara Williamson.
More...
Texas Tech's Tubby Smith was voted DI Men's College Coach of the Year, while Midwestern State's Nelson Haggerty and Lubbock Christian's Steve Gomez were recognized for their successes at the small college level. Junior College Coach of the Year honors went to Ranger's Billy Gillispie and Blinn's Jeff Jenkins.
Goodenough took home the Southland's Coach of the Year trophy earlier this year after posting a near-perfect 17-1 record against the league in ACU's third season as a DI program. The Rotary Club of Abilene then recognized her in April as its Chuck Moser Coach of the Year, putting her name alongside previous winners Hunter Cooley, Barbara Crousen and LeAnn Thomsen.
"There are 23 NCAA DI women's basketball coaches in Texas, so it was an absolute honor to even be considered for this award," said Goodenough. "This is a state that emphasizes basketball and there are great coaches at every level from DI down to high school … not only was I surprised to win, I was excited and thrilled to be asked to speak at this tremendous event."
Goodenough was notified of her award Saturday prior to her TABC Convention talk about culture building at ACU and the Wildcats' motion offense. Other women's basketball coaches invited to speak at the San Antonio-based conference included SMU's Travis Mays, Syracuse's Quentin Hillsman and West Virginia's Mike Carey.
The Wildcats' begin their 2016-17 season the weekend of Nov. 11 as one of 16 teams in the Preseason WNIT. Game times and opponents for this prestigious event will be announced in the coming weeks.
ACU returns four starters from last year's team, including Southland Conference Player of the Year Alexis Mason and all-conference honorees Suzzy Dimba and Sydney Shelstead. Lizzy Dimba, who missed the final seven games of last season with an injury, is expected to be healthy in time for the start of her senior season and will help prepare and mentor a class of five talented newcomers: Dominique Golightly, Pam Herrera, Lexi Kirgan, Taudenciah Oluoch and Brea Wright.
The Wildcats also bring back key reserves in junior Sierra Allen and sophomores McKenzie Martin and Sara Williamson.
More...