THE CLARENCE "BIG HOUSE" GAINES AWARD

2014 Clarence Gaines Award

April 4, 2014


WILSON WINS 2014 CLARENCE GAINES AWARD

DALLAS, TX  -- East Stroudsburg's Jeff Wilson is the recipient of the 2014 Clarence "Big House" Gaines award, presented annually to the top Division II coach in college basketball.

Wilson guided ESU to a historic 30-2 season and the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Atlantic Regional in his 12th season at his alma mater. The Warriors finished the regular season ranked No. 2 in the NABC DII coaches poll with a 28-1 record, earning a spot in the final NABC Top 25 poll for the first time in program history. ESU was just the second school in the last eight years to finish in the top two after being unranked in the preseason poll.

Wilson led the Warriors to their second PSAC championship in three years and fourth trip to the NCAA Tournament in the last five years, compiling a 112-39 record with four 20-wins seasons in that stretch – a long way from Wilson and assistant coach Justin Potts taking over a four-win team prior to the 2002-03 season.

One of the true legends of all-time, Clarence Gaines retired from Winston-Salem State University in 1993 with a record of 828-446. At the time he was the winningest active basketball coach in NCAA history. He was elected to Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982.
 

2014 CLARENCE GAINES AWARD FINALISTS

Derrick Clark Metropolitan State
Robert Corn Missouri Southern
Rick Croy Cal Baptist
Michael Donnelly Southern Connecticut State
Leon Douglas Tuskegee
Stan Gouard Indianapolis
Steve Hettinga Lake Superior State
Jeff Oliver Cal State San Bernardino
Lonn Reisman Tarleton State
Josh Schertz Lincoln Memorial
Jeff Wilson East Stroudsburg
Greg Zimmerman Alderson-Broaddus

 

The Clarence Gaines Award, which is presented annually to the top Division II basketball coach, is named in honor of the former Winston Salem State head coach.
 
One of the true legends of all-time, Gaines retired from Winston-Salem State University in 1993 with a record of 828-446. At the time he was the winningest active basketball coach in NCAA history. Gaines was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982.
 
During his 47-year tenure as coach and athletic director at WSSU he coached professional basketball greats Cleo Hill (first African-American from an historically Black college and university to be drafted No. 1 by the National Basketball Association, St. Louis Hawks, 1961) and Earl "The Pearl" Monroe. 
 
The recipient of the 2023-24 award will be announced in April, in Phoenix, AZ site of the men's NCAA Basketball Championship.

The Clarence Gaines award is presented annually to the top division II head coach, as voted on by the award committee. 
 
The 10-member voting committee consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of collegeinsider.com.
 
The award is presented annually at the site of the men's Division I NCAA basketball championship. 

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