Press Release :: Women's Basketball Coaches Association

ATLANTA - The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) named Chris Kielsmeier of Howard Payne University as the 2008 RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Coach of the Year. This year marks the 26^th year this accolade has been presented, which has been selected by the WBCA since 1983. 

“The WBCA is delighted to present Chris Kielsmeier with the RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA National NCAA Division III Coach of the Year Award,” said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. “Chris, selected for the award by his peers, has had a tremendous 2008 season.”

Kielsmeier has coached the No. 2 Howard Payne Yellow Jackets to a perfect 31-0 season heading into the semifinal round of the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball National Championship on March 21. Kielsmeier’s squad recently claimed a 52-49 victory of No. 1 Hope College in the quarterfinal round of the tournament. Howard Payne has maintained the nation’s highest scoring margin, winning their games this year by an average of 28.8 points. He was also named the 2007-08 American Southwest Conference West Division Coach of the Year after claiming his third league title in the last four years.

In his eighth season at Howard Payne, Kielsmeier has quickly ascended the all-time coaching ranks as the winningest head coach in school history. He has amassed 177 wins at the helm of the Yellow Jackets since assuming the head coaching position in 2000.

"RUSSELL ATHLETIC is proud to support the winners of the WBCA National Coach of the Year Awards.  Just like these individuals, for those who have what it takes on the inside, RUSSELL has what it takes on the outside,” said Chris Passarell, vice president of marketing, RUSSELL ATHLETIC.

Kielsmeier is one of six RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA National Coaches of the Year selected by the Association, which also names winners for each of the other four WBCA collegiate divisions (NCAA Divisions I and II, NAIA and JC/CC) as well as High School. The collegiate winner is selected through a two-level process. The first level is by region, in which coaches from each WBCA geographical region vote for their respective top coach. Kielsmeier, having received the most votes in WBCA NCAA Division III Region 5, advanced as a finalist to the national level of the selection process along with the other seven Regional Coaches of the Year in NCAA Division III. 

The WBCA would also like to recognize the following regional Division III Coaches of the Year:

In addition to the regional winners, the following NCAA Division III Women’s Final Four coaches were also included as at-large nominations:

About RUSSELL ATHLETIC
For more than 100 years, Russell Athletic has been designing and producing the most innovative, most comfortable apparel to help athletes at all levels perform their best. From the youth practice fields, to premier collegiate teams, to the most respected professional arenas, whenever you see athletes and teams who demand the highest quality, exceptional durability, and extreme comfort, you'll find Russell Athletic.

About the WBCA
Founded in 1981, the WBCA promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game as a sport for women and girls. For additional information about the WBCA, please visit wbca.org.