Valpo's Fernandez Wins Lefty Driesell Award

HOUSTON, TX  -- Valparaiso's Vashil Fernandez is the recipient of the 2016 Lefty Driesell National Defensive Player of the Year.

Fernandez led the nation in blocked shots with 119, which is the top single-season mark in Horizon League history. The 6-foot-10 senior is also the only player in League history to be named Defensive Player of the Year for a second straight season.

He blocked five or more shots in 12 games this season, including tying his own single-game record with eight rejections in the first round of the NIT against Texas Southern.

Fernandez was the anchor of Valparaiso stingy defense, which was one of the best in all of division I college basketball.

Driesell won 786 games in 41 years at Davidson, Maryland, James Madison and Georgia State. He ranks eighth on the NCAA career Division I coaches victories list and his teams at each stop were known for playing tenacious defense. From 1969-1986 at Maryland, his teams posted a 348-159 record, won two Atlantic Coast Conference regular season titles and one tournament title.

Driesell also led Davidson, Georgia State and James Madison to the NCAA tournament, making him one of three coaches to reach the NCAAs with four different programs. His teams won a total of 16 regular season championships and six tournament championships.