Coach of the Year: Steve Hawkins
Player of the Year: Javon McCrea

MAC Sports

http://www.ubbullrun.com/2014/3/12/55001...von-mccrea

Next year could be a pretty down year for UB.... McCrea has been something special down low..

Not surprised by the winners, but surprised that Juice Brown only received 1 vote for player of the year. Well earned by both McCrea and Hawkins.

(03-12-2014 08:43 AM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  http://www.ubbullrun.com/2014/3/12/55001...von-mccrea

Next year could be a pretty down year for UB.... McCrea has been something special down low..

I'm really optimistic about their chances next year. They have to replace a lot including the best player they've ever had, but they are bringing in a lot and Jamir Hanner has drawn rave reviews.

What does Tod Kowalczyk have to do to win Coach of the Year? Go from 4-28 to 19-17 in one season? Check. Share the West Division title despite reduced practice time, postseason ban, and other sanctions? Check. Go 26-5 in the regular season and share the regular season championship? Check.

Steve Hawkins did a great coaching job this season. I just don't understand how TK only got three votes.

(03-12-2014 12:38 PM)RocketBBallFan Wrote:  What does Tod Kowalczyk have to do to win Coach of the Year? Go from 4-28 to 19-17 in one season? Check. Share the West Division title despite reduced practice time, postseason ban, and other sanctions? Check. Go 26-5 in the regular season and share the regular season championship? Check.

Steve Hawkins did a great coaching job this season. I just don't understand how TK only got three votes.

Toledo doesn't impress many teams in conference with their 4-8 point victories. He doesn't coach any D...we are winning on athleticism. He's a darn good recruiter

Kowalczyk shouldn't get any credit THIS YEAR for what he did in previous years. COY is a lot about expectations entering this season. UT was expected to be the dominant team, but WMU certainly exceeded their expectations. UT had a great season, but WMU being the #1 seed out flanks that, coupled with Hawkins overachieving on his expectations. I thought Hawkins was an easy choice.

What does Kowalczyk need to do to win COY? This year, had Toledo clearly dominated the conference, he probably would have won. Exceed the (fair or not) pre-season expectations, and be one of the top teams is the best path to COY.

I agree that a coach should not receive credit this season for what they did in previous seasons. My question is, why didn't TK receive votes for COY last season and the season before?

In 2011-2012, they go from 4-28 to 19-17, the second biggest turnaround in the country that season. He gets zero votes for COY.

In 2012-2013, they finish 10-6 in the MAC, tied for first in the West, despite all of the sanctions from the previous coaching staff. He gets one vote for COY.

He certainly exceeded expectations both of those seasons. Why no votes for COY?

Kowalczyk should've won. WMU had two first team all-mac guys, they should've been good. Hawkins second and Montgomery third. Kowalczyk should have a couple coy by now. Toledo's program was in the toilet and he has resurrected it. You watch next year when NIU is a top 4 MAC team, Montgomery will win it. Somebody in the MAC offices does not like Kowalczyk. I am a Huskie fan and its easy to see that Todd K got screwed!

Well, WMU had only two starters back from last season, was picked in preseason below Toledo and still thrived. As Axe stated, much of it (fair or not) is based on expectations. Toledo managed to meet expectations while WMU exceeded the expectations of the voters.

(03-12-2014 01:43 PM)dekalb222 Wrote:  Kowalczyk should've won. WMU had two first team all-mac guys, they should've been good......

Hey UB only had one guy on any all MAC team, maybe Hurley should have won

I agree that Western exceeded expectations, but only barely. I mean, c'mon...Whittington was back--it's not like the Broncos were headed for a losing season. I also agree that Toledo didn't surprise anyone this season--losses that probably shouldn't have happened may have made it easier for others to not vote for Coach K. He may also have lost a vote or two from the Drummond issue, right or wrong. I further agree that the MAC hasn't really cared for Toledo for a out 10 or more years, but that shouldn't have factored. Coach K should have been COY last season, and IMO Montgomery accomplished much more with what he had at NIU than Hawkins did.

The MAC office does not vote on COY so how they feel about any coach is irrelevant.


Posted from the CSNbbs App.

(03-12-2014 02:45 PM)axeme Wrote:  The MAC office does not vote on COY so how they feel about any coach is irrelevant.


Posted from the CSNbbs App.

Not necessarily true. I don't buy that they are anti-Toledo but they certainly control press releases, publicity and other things that could factor into the decisions made by those who vote.

Toledo fans, take notice-

On March 5th, 2012 Rob Murphy of EMU was named the MAC COTY for leading the Eagles to a 14-17(9-7) record. That evening EMU lost in the first round of the MAC Tournament to a #12 seed NIU team that had won 4 games all year. That season John Groce lead Ohio to a 24-7(11-5) regular season record that included a 12-1 start and votes in the AP poll. Ohio of coarse would go on to a 29-8 record and an appearance in the Sweet 16. Groce received zero votes.

In 4 seasons John Groce was 8-2 in the MAC Tournament with 2 championships and a 3-2 record in the NCAA Tournament and was voted Coach of the Year zero times. The 4 coaches that beat him for COTY were a combined 3-4 in the MAC tournament with 0 championships, 0 NCAA Tournament appearances and a 3-3 record in the NIT.

In other words, these individual awards really don't mean much.

Then why isn't NIU's coach COY? He brought back a 4 or 5 win team to almost .500 in his first season?

Montgomery did a fine job. Caught their game when OU was in town and NIU looked pathetic. Nice bounce back to finish well ahead of expectations after losing the best freshman player in the conference.

WMU also played better than expected and won the regular season championship. WMU will have the trophy in their trophy case shortly after it is presented. Playing better than expected and winning the regular season championship may have something to do with it.

(03-12-2014 07:20 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  Then why isn't NIU's coach COY? He brought back a 4 or 5 win team to almost .500 in his first season?

Ummm, it's his 3rd season.

(03-12-2014 07:57 PM)OUVan Wrote:  

(03-12-2014 07:20 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  Then why isn't NIU's coach COY? He brought back a 4 or 5 win team to almost .500 in his first season?

Ummm, it's his 3rd season.

Yeah, it's their football coaches that change annually.

Also remember: Louis Orr won COY once. Louis Orr. Louis effing Orr.

(03-12-2014 05:32 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  Toledo fans, take notice-

On March 5th, 2012 Rob Murphy of EMU was named the MAC COTY for leading the Eagles to a 14-17(9-7) record. That evening EMU lost in the first round of the MAC Tournament to a #12 seed NIU team that had won 4 games all year. That season John Groce lead Ohio to a 24-7(11-5) regular season record that included a 12-1 start and votes in the AP poll. Ohio of coarse would go on to a 29-8 record and an appearance in the Sweet 16. Groce received zero votes.

In 4 seasons John Groce was 8-2 in the MAC Tournament with 2 championships and a 3-2 record in the NCAA Tournament and was voted Coach of the Year zero times. The 4 coaches that beat him for COTY were a combined 3-4 in the MAC tournament with 0 championships, 0 NCAA Tournament appearances and a 3-3 record in the NIT.

In other words, these individual awards really don't mean much.

Damn...that's nuts. Yeah when you see that, it doesn't seem to make sense except if you explain it that they really vote on you based on how much better you are as a coach in one year versus the prior year. But still Rob Murphy over Groce? Seriously? At least nobody can argue that Hawkins wasn't deserving of it being MAC regular season champs and all.