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Just saw on Coach Daniel's Facebook status that he was nominated for National Coach of the Year today!

He's got my vote!

Soooooo, who gets your vote for UCA coach of the year so far? I know other spring sports just started. Would you go Daniel (wbb) or McRoberts (vb) or tie? Let's discuss.

Both have had remarkable seasons to say the least. Hard to top volleyball's 27-3, 16-0 conference championship (22 straight wins in conference dating to last year if anyone is counting) and top 100 (91) national RPI. But the best turnaround in D1 wbb and 20+ wins is something incredible as well. Plus the fact that Daniel rebuilt the whole team from basically scratch. Amazing to say the least. Plus their RPI is in the low 200's (someone check me on that) and it had been in the 300's. Great stuff there too. It's a close race to call. Both men, their coaching staffs and players have done a great service for our university. Go Sugar Bears!!!!

Wow. I can immediately make an argument for both.
Good question. I'll see if anyone can swing my vote with their argument.

Close call but McRoberts gets my vote. Winning 90%, undefeated in SLC play and outright champ is hard to top plus he consistently has highly respected players in region and even nationally. Coacn Daniel is roughly where McRoberts was last year poised to move up a step next year.

As to national b-ball COY, Matt would have my vote.

It is a tough call, but an undefeated conference title is what sways me. Let's be realistic here. Besides making the NCAA tournament, a conference title is the "Super Bowl" for sports at UCA. Conque and McRoberts have both accomplished this. Just wish both counted the same.

I'm about to head to lunch, but here are my very quick arguments for both sides.

Coach Mc:
Went a perfect 16-0 in conference play
Lost just three times through an entire season - to Rice, Oklahoma, Memphis; two of those made it to the postseason
Perfect home record
Had four seniors as leaders


Coach D:
2nd year coach of what was an abysmal program for a few years (luckily Marvel helped unabysmalize the program a bit)
Took team from 6-23 (2-14) to 20-7 (10-4) in a single year with . . .
Zero seniors; 1 junior that consistently plays and averages just 8.1mpg



But as I've said before. It's hard to beat perfection.

How do they not?

Wait nevermind, I answered that myself. Football's didn't actually even count (to the Southland).

It counts to the fans and as one football player told me, "We know we were the best in the SLC in 2008"....we will keep it alive.

First off, Congrats to Coach Daniel for being nominated as a finalist. That is a tremendous honor.

Second, as far as who has done a better. I am not going to be biased because I managed of these sports. I have seen every home game with both teams and I must say that both coaches do a great job in preparing their teams for game day. As much as I want say one coach over another. I can't. It is ironic, yet amazing to think that both coaches had the same kind of way of building their programs to where they are today. It has not taken long for either coach to have the success they are having right now. Right now, both of these programs are our flagship as we move forward to full DI status officially later in the year.

I can not pick just one at all. I must say it is a tie. They both did a great job so far, and I believe the best is really yet to come!

Well said....

Lee Goddard, a writer in Corpus Christi, would vote Coach Daniel as the Southland Coach of the Year. Unfortunately, he also considers Jenna Plumley at Lamar a better selection for Player of the Year over Herbert. Gives Megan a first-team nod and his Freshman of the Year vote, though.

Of course, his vote doesn't actually count since media doesn't vote in the Southland awards. Good to get that kind of respect though, even if he's probably off on his Player of the Year selection.

(That's the cached version of the page, you'll have to live with it. For some reason it no longer exists ... maybe some uproar in Corpus that he gave Matt a vote over the local guy?)

No love for Coach Daniel from Todd Traub, formerly of the Democrat-Gazette. He debates whether Joe Foley or John Brady is the best basketball coach in the state.

Got to love this line ...



Well, an epic turnaround like that pretty much seals the deal. No point in even having a discussion.

Wow! A four game swing! Geez. I hope he's the Coach of the Year in the entire NCAA.

No doubt a Sun Belt suck-upper.