Your future, our focus
POWELL, Wyo. - In only his second year as head coach of the Northwest College Men's Basketball Team, Andy Ward was voted Region IX North Coach of the Year.
It was a unanimous vote by the four other coaches who comprise the Region IX North bracket.
"What this award symbolizes is not how many victories a coach delivers, but the professionalism one exhibits through the course of a season, and sometimes a career," said Jim Zeigler, NWC's athletic director. "I believe it's more of an honor when the integrity, consistency and credibility of a coach shine through, despite a loss in the final game. Andy is a stand-up guy. His students are well mannered. He never compromises on integrity. He does things the right way. He has consistently demonstrated these qualities, not just during this year. A heart wrenching, very close loss cut short his team's championship aspirations, but it didn't prevent Andy's peers from clearly seeing the worth of this man. I'm very proud to be associated with him."
Ward's team posted a 16-15 season for the 2008-09 year and fielded the Region IX North player of the year, two first team all-conference players and an all-conference second team player.
Before signing on with the NWC Trappers in 2007, Ward coached at Eastern Wyoming College. Under his direction, the Lancers posted their best season ever in the history of the EWC men's basketball program. In five short years, he won the Region IX Tournament twice, finished eighth at the NJCAA National Tournament and received the Region IX Coach of the Year Award.