May 4, 2009
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Texas A&M women's basketball associate head coach Vic Schaefer (pronounced SHEA-fur) was one of five Division I assistant coaches named 2009 Coaches of the Year by BasketballScoop.com and ONS PerformanceTM, makers of Critical ReloadTM in an announcement of the "Rising Stars" award winners on Monday.
Schaefer recently completed his 12th season as one of the top assistants to Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair and his sixth overall year in Aggieland. Under the "secretary of defense," the A&M women's basketball program has annually ranked among the top defensive ball clubs in the nation.
This past season, the Aggies reached the NCAA Sweet 16 for the second-straight year, earned their highest-ever national ranking (No. 3) in both national polls, amassed the second-most wins in school history with a 27-8 overall record and once again, closed out the regular season ranked in the top 10. They also finished ranked 24th nationally in scoring defense (55.4), fifth in three-point field goal percentage defense (26.1), third in turnover margin (6.83) and ninth in steals per game (11.9).
"Vic is one of the best coaches in the game," Blair told BasketballScoop. "He puts everything he has into making the program a success. Vic tells me what I need to hear, not what I want to hear and that makes us a better team."
The award recognizes Division I assistant coaches across the country that are among the best in the business as determined by their peers. Coaches were evaluated in the following areas: recruiting, player development, team development/scouting and leadership and administration.
In the summer of 2007, Schaefer led the U.S. William Jones Cup Team to a bronze medal in Taipei, Taiwan. He partnered with Athletes In Action to coach some of the top women's college basketball players in the nation. In his first international coaching assignment, Schaefer guided Team USA to a 4-2 record in tournament pool play with victories over Japan, New Zealand, Korea and Chinese Taipei.
One highly-respected coach told BasketballScoop that watching an Aggie practice is fascinating, "When it comes time to talk defense, Coach Blair turns it over to Vic and Vic runs the show. He's really a brilliant defensive coach."
His defensive acumen and his approach to the game are his strengths, but he has also been a part of six top 20 recruiting classes at A&M and Arkansas combined.
"The best part about these awards is that the process is entirely driven by coaches," said Scott Roussel, President of BasketballScoop. "To even be considered for the awards, each coach had to be nominated by another coach in the game. The winners were then selected by a panel of current head coaches and assistant coaches."
Schaefer previously coached at the University of Arkansas under Blair from 1997-2003. Schaefer's impressive coaching resume also includes serving as the head women's basketball coach at Sam Houston State from 1990-97 where he was named Southland Conference Coach of the Year in 1996.
"ONS Performance's Critical Reload would like to congratulate this year's nominees and winners," said Michael Bewley, President and CEO of ONS PerformanceTM. "Recognized by their peers for their talent, effort and dedication, Critical Reload is proud to be a sponsor of this elite selection of coaches. Much like these coaches, at ONS Performance our commitment to the athlete is clearly demonstrated in our product design, testing and certification efforts to ensure athletes and coaches receive top-quality health, safety and performance nutrition. Congratulations again to this year's winners."
Schaefer was joined by Xavier's Mike Neighbors, another Gary Blair protégé, Bowling Green's Jennifer Roos, James Madison's Jackie Smith Carson and Notre Dame's Jonathan Tsipis.
Roussel added, "Each finalist is extremely well thought of in the profession and we have received nothing but positive feedback about the awards and each coach. Our panel felt strongly that each finalist was deserving and thus in addition to announcing the five Rising Stars we are also naming a second team."
Second Team honors went to Florida State's Cori Close, Connecticut's Chris Dailey, VCU's Curt Kassab, Ball State's Lisa McDonald and Louisville's Stephanie Norman.
The BasketballScoop 2009 Coaches of the Year powered by Critical Reload
Mike Neighbors - Assistant Coach - Xavier
Jennifer Roos - Associate Head Coach - Bowling Green
Vic Schaefer - Associate Head Coach - Texas A&M
Jackie Smith Carson - Associate Head Coach - James Madison
Jonathan Tsipis - Associate Head Coach - Notre Dame