Butler's Brad Stevens Receives Mid-Season Coaching Honor
Jan. 8, 2009
The Butler University men's basketball team's early-season success has earned second-year head coach Brad Stevens the Hugh Durham Award mid-season coaching honor. The award is presented by CollegeInsider.com.
Stevens has guided the Bulldogs to a 12-1 start, including a 3-0 record in Horizon League play. Butler is ranked No. 20 in the ESPN/USA Today national poll and No. 21 i the Associated Press (A.P.) national poll. The Bulldogs have a 6-1 record on the road this season, including a victory over #14 Xavier.
"I truly enjoy watching Brad's team play," said legendary Georgia and Jacksonville coach Hugh Durham. "As a former coach, I always look for two things, effort and execution. Brad's team gets an A+ for both. He has done a really nice job in a short time as the head coach."
Steven's, now in his second season as head coach of the Bulldogs, led Butler to a 30-4 record, Horizon League regular season and tournament championships and a first round win in the NCAA Tournament last year. He's had the Bulldogs in the "Top 25" in 22 of his 29 weeks as a head coach.
Butler, picked fifth in this year's preseason Horizon League poll, is currently ranked third in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25.
Stevens received seven of 20 possible first place votes for the Hugh Durham Award and edged Tim Jankovich of Illiois State for the mid-season honor. Rounding out the top five in the voting were Duggar Baucom of VMI, Randy Bennett of Saint Mary's and Bob McKillop of Davidson.
Last season, Stevens finished second for mid-season honors, behind Bennett.
"Whom ever has the responsibility of hiring coaches at Butler is doing a pretty good job," added Durham.
Stevens took over last season for Todd Lickliter, who was named head coach at Iowa. Lickliter received the Hugh Durham Award mid-season honor in 2006-07.
The Hugh Durham Award is giving annually by CollegeInsider.com to the top mid-major coach in America. Drake head coach Keno Davis (now at Providence) was the recipient of the award last year. This season's winner will be announced at the Final Four in Detroit.
