Katz, Hayford Share Coach of the Year
OGDEN, Utah (March 10, 2015) - Two coaches who led their respective programs to the best regular-seasons in the Division I histories of those institutions have been selected as the Co-Big Sky Conference men’s basketball Coach of the Year.
Eastern Washington’s Jim Hayford and Sacramento State’s Brian Katz were tabbed as co-Coach of the Year by their conference peers.
This marks just the fourth time since the conference began awarding a Coach of the Year for men’s basketball in 1963-64 that the honor has been shared. The last time it happened was following the 1993-94 regular season.
Hayford guided Eastern Washington to a share of the regular-season title, the program’s first since the 2003-04 season. The Eagles won a school-record 14 conference games, and won 23 games, the most for the program since becoming a Division I program in 1983-84.
Katz led Sacramento State to a 19-9 regular season and a 13-5 finish in conference play. Sacramento State will finish with a winning record for the first time since becoming a Division I member in 1991-92. The Hornets’ 13 Big Sky wins were the most for the program, which joined the league in 1996-97.
Katz, who is in his seventh season, is the first Sacramento State coach to claim the Big Sky Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year. Hayford, in his fourth season, is the fourth Eagle coach to win, but the first since Ray Giacoletti in 2003-04.
Both teams were led by outstanding guards who were unanimous First Team All-Conference selections. Eastern Washington junior Tyler Harvey leads the nation in scoring and 3-point field goals per game. Conference MVP Mikh McKinney is second in the Big Sky in scoring, third in assists, and tops in steals. On Monday, he became the first Sacramento State men’s basketball player to win a conference MVP award since 1977.
Hayford has an overall record of 63-62 with the Eagles. His team will take the No. 2 seed into the 2015 Big Sky Conference Championship. Eastern Washington opens against No. 7 seed Idaho at 11 a.m. Mountain.
Katz has compiled a 75-127 mark in his seven seasons. Under his guidance, the Hornets have improved their conference win total all seven seasons. Sacramento State will be the No. 3 seed and open against Portland State on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. Mountain.
Katz is assisted by associate head coach Brandon Laird, Ajay Riding and Chris Walker. Nate Smith is the director of basketball operations.
Hayford is assisted Shantay Legans, Alex Pribble and David Riley.