NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Basketball Coaches Association of New York announced that Niagara University men’s basketball coach Joe Mihalich has been named its 2006-07 Men’s Basketball Division I Coach of the Year.
"It is an honor to be named BCANY Coach of the Year," Mihalich said. "The state of New York is full of outstanding coaches and it is humbling to receive this award. I accept it on behalf of an outstanding coaching staff and an incredible group of student-athletes."
Mihalich helped guide the Purple Eagles to records of 23-12 overall and 13-5 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, to its second NCAA Tournament berth in the last three years and to a its first tournament victory in 37 years, defeating Florida A&M.
Niagara captured its second MAAC Tournament title under Mihalich in 2006-07, and he also helped the team post the fourth-longest winning streak in Division I.
Under Mihalich’s tutelage, junior Charron Fisher, and seniors Clif Brown and Lorenzo Miles all earned All-MAAC honors during the regular season. Brown and Miles were also honored on the MAAC All-Tournament Team and rookie Tyrone Lewis was named the MAAC Tournament MVP.
In addition to this honor, Mihalich has been named MAAC Coach of the Year twice (1998-99 & 2004-05) and the 2004-05 District 2 USBWA Coach of the Year.
Mihalich and eight other collegiate and high school coaches of the year will be honored at the annual BCANY Fall Clinic Oct. 5-6 in Albany.
