LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – IUP head coach
Tom McConnell has been named the 2018 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division Women's Basketball Coach of the Year, as the league announced its postseason awards Thursday afternoon.
Now in his fifth year on the IUP bench, McConnell is proving to be arguably the best coach in program history.
He's led the Crimson Hawks to a PSAC West regular season title and 26-2 overall record entering Saturday's conference tournament semifinals at the Kovalchick Complex. IUP set a new program record with 25 regular season victories, tied a record with 20 conference victories, and posted 15 straight wins to open the season, which is the second best mark in school history.
Earlier this season McConnell became the fastest IUP head coach to 100 victories with the Crimson Hawks' 89-38 win over Mercyhurst on Jan. 6. He's built a 114-32 (.781) record since arriving in 2013, ranking first in program history in win percentage and third in wins.
After an 18-10 debut for the crimson and gray, McConnell has followed with seasons of 25, 21, 24, and now 26 victories. One more victory will tie the program single season record of 27 and send the Crimson Hawks to their second straight PSAC Championship game as they look to repeat.
The Crimson Hawks are 16-0 at home this year and are on a current run of 21 straight home victories under McConnell, which is also a program record.
PSAC postseason awards
The Coach of the Year honor for McConnell is one of many as the PSAC announced its 2018 women's basketball awards Thursday afternoon. In addition to McConnell,
Megan Smith (Blain, Pa./West Perry) and
Carolyn Appleby (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) were named to the PSAC West first team and
Lauren Wolosik (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Catholic) earned second team honors.
IUP's PSAC Coach of the Year history
McConnell becomes the fourth IUP coach to win PSAC Coach of the Year honors, joining Cindy Martin in 2007, Sandy Thomas in 1999, and Jan Kiger in 1988.
Follow
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's basketball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_WBB.
