Press Release :: Women's Basketball Coaches Association

ATLANTA, Ga. - The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) has selected Steve Brooks of Indiana Wesleyan University as the 2007 Russell Athletic/WBCA National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Coach of the Year. Brooks becomes the 23^rd coach in history to receive this accolade, which has been selected by the WBCA since 1985.

“On behalf of the WBCA and the NAIA membership, I would like to congratulate Steve Brooks for being named the Russell Athletic/WBCA National NAIA Coach of the Year,” said WBCA CEO Beth Bass.  “We applaud his efforts in going above and beyond to lead Indiana Wesleyan University to a successful year.”

Brooks led Indiana Wesleyan to a flawless record during the 2006-2007 season. Earning the program’s first national title, Brooks’ Wildcats marched to an impressive 38-0 record. In lieu of this season’s team accolades, Coach Brooks was named the Mid-Central College Conference Coach of the Year.

Indian Wesleyan University’s women’s basketball program has improved tremendously under the tutelage of Coach Brooks. He led them to four straight NAIA National Tournament Sweet Sixteen appearances (2003-2007) and a 2005-2006 first ever appearance in the Elite Eight.

"Russell Athletic is proud to support the winners of the WBCA 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, Senior Director of Marketing, Russell Athletic.

Coach Brooks is one of six Russell Athletic/WBCA National Coaches of the Year selected, which also names winners for each of the other four WBCA collegiate divisions (NCAA Divisions I, II, III and JC/CC) as well as High School. The 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. Coach Brooks, having received the most votes in WBCA NAIA Region 4, advanced as a finalist to the national level of the selection process along with the other six Regional Coaches of the Year in the NAIA division.

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

Coach Brooks 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 2, 2007, at 12:00 p.m. (ET) in the Crowne Plaza’s Grand Ballroom. The luncheon is part of the 2007 WBCA National Convention, held in conjunction with the NCAA® Women's Final Four® in Cleveland, Ohio. 

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. 

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 in all of its aspects as a sport for women and girls. For more information about the WBCA, please visit WBCA.org.