Press Release :: Women's Basketball Coaches Association

"On behalf of the WBCA, I am happy to announce the RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA National High School Coach of the Year as Kevin Kiernan," said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. "He has contributed so much to the game of women's basketball and we look forward to many more positive results from his hard work at Troy High School."

In his 10th season as the head coach of the Troy Warriors, Kiernan has led the girls' basketball team to four consecutive California Division II State Finals, winning the title in both 2003 and 2005. He has had nine straight undefeated league championships, eight trips to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Finals, four CIF Championships and two State Championships.

Prior to coaching at Troy High School, Kiernan coached at Cypress College as well as La Quinta High School. At Cypress, he turned an 8-74 program for the three years prior to his arrival, into a team that acquired four 20-plus seasons, a state finals appearance and an overall record of 110-79. As a high school coach, he has compiled a record of 375-53, while posting a 263-29 record alone at Troy High School.

"Russell Athletic is proud to support the WBCA and be the presenting sponsor of the Coach of the Year Awards," said Calvin Johnston, President & CEO of RUSSELL ATHLETIC. "We are huge supporters of women's sports across America and rewarding excellence is a hallmark of our company."

The WBCA would additionally like to congratulate the other eight District Coaches of the Year: Paul Vachon (District 1 - Cony High School - Augusta, Maine); Vanessa Watson (District 2 -Malcolm X Shabazz High School - Newark, N.J.); Diane Richardson (District 3 - Riverdale Baptist School - Upper Marlboro, Md.); Pat Diulus (District 4 - Regina High School - South Euclid, Ohio); Scott Jensen (District 5 - Bellevue High School - Bellevue, Neb.); Leta Rains-Andrews (District 6 - Granbury High School - Granbury, Texas); Don Petranovich (District 7 - Winslow High School - Winslow, Ariz.); Tracy Tipton (District 9 - Collins Hill High School - Suwannee, Ga.).

Each winner is selected through a two-level process. The first level is by District, in which coaches from each WBCA geographical district vote for their respective top coach. Kiernan, having been named the District 8 Coach of the Year, advanced as a finalist to the national level of the selection process along with the other eight District Coaches of the Year in high school. The top four vote getters are invited to coach in the WBCA High School All-America Game, presented by Nike unless they have received this honor in the past five years.

The coaching line-up has also been selected for the Red and White Team for the 15th Annual WBCA High School All-America Game, presented by Nike. The head coach of the Red Team will be WBCA National High School Coach of the Year winner Kevin Kiernan, head coach of Troy High School, while Don Petranovich, head coach at Winslow High School, will lead the White Team. Serving as an assistant for the Red Team is Vanessa Watson, head coach at Malcolm X Shabazz High School, and for the White Team will be Tracey Tipton, head coach at Collins Hill High School. Co-Captain of the Red Team is Swin Cash of the WNBA's Detroit Shock and Lindsay Whalen of the WNBA's Connecticut Sun will be the White Team Co-Captain.

Kiernan and the national winners from the other five divisions will be honored at the RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA National Coach of the Year Luncheon presented by AstraZeneca on Tuesday, April 4 at 12:00 p.m. (ET) in the Hynes Convention Center Ballroom. The luncheon is part of the 2006 WBCA National Convention held in conjunction with the NCAA® Women's Final Four® in Boston, Mass. This year the WBCA celebrates its Silver Anniversary, marking 25 years of existence.

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 an amateur sport for women and girls. For additional information about the WBCA, please visit WBCA.org.