By Dave Morrison
Register-Herald Sports Editor
BECKLEY —
For the second time this season, Mountain State coach Bob Bolen has been honored with a national coach of the year award.
Bolen was named the Basketball Times NAIA national coach of the year by the magazine, considered a must-read publication in coaching circles.
Additionally, Nick Aldridge was named the magazine’s NAIA player of the year.
“It’s a great honor to be recognized by a national publication devoted to basketball,” Bolen said. “We were number one in the nation for nine weeks this season and sometimes (these awards) go with the territory.”
Bolen was also recognized as the Basketball Coaches Association NAIA coach of the year two weeks ago.
He was also the Basketball Times NAIA coach of the year in 2004, when MSU went 38-1 and won the NAIA national championship.
MSU was 29-3 this year and was seeded No. 1 in the NAIA national Tournament, where the Cougars fell to Southern Polytechnic 93-90 in overtime in the second round.
“Again, we’ve been consistent as a program over the last 10 years,” said Bolen, who is 300-43 in the last decade. “I’m very proud of the fact that we’ve been able to play at that high a level over the last 10 years.
“That’s what this award represents, the program, and it is certainly a tribute to our assistant coaches (Dave Barksdale, Artis Maddox and Adrian Jackson) and our players.”
Which includes the 6-foot-7 Aldridge, who was also a first-team NAIA All-American this season, co-Independent Region player of the year and Independent Region Tournament MVP.
On the season, Aldridge averaged 23.6 points per game and was second on the team in rebounds (7.5), assists (83) and steals (37).
“Nick was consistent all season,” Bolen said of the senior. “That was a major key for us. If we needed as basket, Nick stepped up. He rebounded the ball. He was one of the better players we’ve had as far as an all-round player goes.”
Aldridge was out of town and unavailable for comment.
