Press Release :: Women's Basketball Coaches Association

ATLANTA - The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) has selected Andy Zihlman of Bishop Lynch High School (Dallas, Texas) as the 2008 RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA National High School Coach of the Year. This year marks the 19th year that this accolade has been presented, which has been selected by the WBCA since 1990. With receiving this prestigious award comes the honor of serving as a head coach at the WBCA High School All-America Game presented by Nike on Saturday April 5, 2008, at the University of South Florida's Sun Dome at 4:30 pm ET.

"On behalf of the WBCA, I am honored to present this year's RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA National High School Coach of the Year Award to Andy Zihlman," said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. "He has shown a great deal of devotion to the game and its up-and-coming talent."

Zihlman recently completed his 27th season at the helm of the Bishop Lynch, where he has experienced unprecedented success. A 1972 graduate of Bishop Lynch, Zihlman has amassed over 700 wins and recently led the Lady Friars to their seventh consecutive state championship on March 1, 2008. Under his leadership, the Bishop Lynch girls' basketball program has collected 22 state championships in 27 seasons, and they currently hold the national record with 25 state titles all-time.

In addition to compiling a 713-217 record in 27 seasons of coaching at Bishop Lynch, Zihlman served as Dean of Students for 17 years and was named Athletic Director in 2001. Zihlman holds a Bachelor of Science degree in health and physical education, as well as a Master of Science degree in health and physical education and mid-management certification.

"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.

The WBCA would additionally like to congratulate the other eight District Coaches of the Year: Jackie DiNardo (District 1 - Danbury High School - Danbury, Conn.); Ken Strube (District 2 - Shenendehowa High School - Clifton Park, N.Y.); Jackie Boswell (District 3 - Seton Keough High School - Baltimore, Md.); Frank Orlando (District 4 - Detroit Country Day School - Beverly Hills, Mich.); John Larson (District 5 - Lincoln Southeast High School - Lincoln, Neb.); Cary Veis (District 7 - Custer County District High School - Miles City, Mont.); Brian Harrigan (District 8 - Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory - San Francisco, Calif.); Jill Prudden (District 9 - Oak Ridge High School - Oak Ridge, Tenn.).

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. Zihlman, having been named the District 6 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 17th Annual WBCA High School All-America Game presented by Nike. The head coach of the Red Team will be the RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA National High School Coach of the Year winner Zihlman, head coach of Bishop Lynch High School, while Frank Orlando, head coach at Detroit Country Day School, will lead the White Team. Serving as an assistant for the Red Team is Jill Prudden, head coach at Oak Ridge High School, and for the White Team will be Ken Strube, head coach at Shenendehowa High School. Nike Co-Captain of the Red Team is Tamika Catchings of the WNBA's Indiana Fever and Lindsey Harding of the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx will be the White Team Nike Co-Captain.

Zihlman 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 Monday, April 7, 2008, at Noon (ET) in the Marriott Waterside's Grand Ballroom. The luncheon is part of the 2008 WBCA National Convention, held in conjunction with the NCAA® Women's Final Four® in Tampa Bay, Fla.

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.