After leading the Minnesota State University Moorhead men's basketball team to a school-record 35 wins in 2014-15, Dragons head coach Chad Walthall was presented with the Clarence "Big House" Gaines Coach of the Year Award on Friday.
The award is given annually to the top Division II coach in the country and is voted on by a 20-member committee consisting of current or retired head coaches and collegeinsider.com staff members.
Walthall, one of 16 finalists for the award, recorded his 200th overall career victory and his 100th career victory as head coach of MSUM this season. The Dragons finished the regular season as NSIC co-champions with a record of 20-2 and advanced to the NCAA Elite 8 after being crowned Central Region champions, the first regional championship in school history.
In five seasons at MSUM, Walthall is 111-44 with a conference record of 73-37. The 111 wins in five seasons are the most wins in any five-year period in school history. The 71.6-percent winning percentage is the best among any head coach in school history (minimum 50 wins).
The award was presented at the CollegeInsider.com Awards Banquet in Indianapolis on Friday. MSUM assistant coach Justin Wieck accepted the award on behalf of Walthall.
