Eaves named District 15 Coach of the Year

 EAVES NAMED DISTRICT 15 COACH OF THE YEAR

Aggies’ 16 wins were the most victories since 93-94 season

GREENSBORO, – The North Carolina A&T men’s basketball team has improved each year it has been under the guidance of Jerry Eaves. He was awarded for the Aggies improvement during the 2008-09 season by being named the 2009 National Association of Basketball Coaches District 15 Coach of the Year.

Eaves led the Aggies to a 16-16 record this season; marking the first time the Aggies have not finished below .500 since the 1994-95 season when the Aggies were 15-15. The Aggies’ 16 wins were the most put together by the program since the 1993-94 season when the Aggies went 16-14.

“I really want to thank my players for working so hard,’’ said Eaves. “I want to thank North Carolina A&T for giving me my first head coaching opportunity. It has been a tremendous honor for me over the last six years to be the head coach of an historic program.”

When Eaves was hired as N.C. A&T’s head coach, the Aggies were coming off of a 1-26 season. In each year Eaves has headed the program, the team has either improved or matched its win total from the previous season. Only Morgan State and Hampton have more overall wins over the last three years than N.C. A&T’s 46 victories.

The 2008-09 season saw the Aggies finish 16-16 overall and 9-7 in the MEAC. The Aggies finished above .500 in the conference for the third straight season. It is the first time that has happened since it was done from 1992-95.

In the month of February, the Aggies went 8-0. Their eight consecutive wins was the longest winning streak in 18 seasons. Eaves will enter his seventh season as the Aggies head coach. It is the third longest coaching tenure among active MEAC men’s basketball coaches.

”I’m glad my peers noticed how much this program has grown over the last six years,’’ said Eaves. “Hopefully, we can continue to grow, win a MEAC Championship and advance to the NCAA Tournament. That’s the goal.”

Located in Kansas, Mo., the NABC was founded in 1927 by Phog Allen, the legendary basketball coach at the University of Kansas. Today, the NABC has nearly 5,000 members consisting primarily of university and college men’s basketball coaches. The 24 NABC Division I All-District coaches were selected by their peers. District 15 consists of MEAC schools.

(from Brian Holloway N.C. A&T SID)

-www.ncataggies.com