 CLEVELAND - Bowling Green head coach Louis Orr has been named Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year this season as voted on by the MAC News Media Association. In just his second season at the helm of the Bowling Green Falcons, Orr has led Bowling Green to a MAC East Division Co-Championship and the No. 1 seed for the MAC Tournament.
Today’s announcement marks the third time in league history that a Bowling Green head coach has been selected for the honor (Jim Larranaga, 1997; John Weinert, 1978).
Orr’s defensive philosophy has helped the team win five more games in 2008-09 than it did a year ago, including four more MAC wins. The Falcons finished fifth in the Eastern Division a year ago and were picked to finish third in the preseason poll but exceeded those expectations by taking on coach Orr’s philosophy and leading the conference in field goal percentage defense and blocked shots.
Over the course of the season, Orr has developed a tough-minded team that has made a remarkable transformation. The team opened the year by losing seven consecutive road games, including losing a 21-point halftime lead to Savannah State . But the Falcons persevered and, after beating Ohio on the road, won six consecutive MAC road games, the longest streak in the conference since Kent State won seven in a row away from home in the 2001-02 season.
Bowling Green won its first division crown since 2000 and, by virtue of the No. 1 seed for the MAC Tournament, has qualified for the NIT Tournament for the first time since 2002.
The All-MAC First, Second, and Honorable Mention teams were also announced as Miami’s Michael Bramos, Kent State’s Al Fisher, Bowling Green’s Nate Miller, Buffalo’s Rodney Pierce and Ohio’s Jerome Tillman were named to this year’s All-MAC First Team.
Northern Illinois’ Darion “Jake” Anderson was named to the All-MAC Second Team along with Eastern Michigan’s Brandon Bowdry, Akron ’s Brett McKnight, Toledo ’s Tyrone Kent and Western Michigan ’s David Kool.
Honorable mention recognition went to Akron’s Chris McKnight and Nate Linhart, Ball State’s Jarrod Jones and teammate Brandon Lampley, Bowling Green’s Brian Moten, Buffalo’s Greg Gamble, Central Michigan’s Marcus Van, Kent State’s Chris Singletary, Miami’s Tyler Dierkers and Ohio’s Mike Allen.
The All-Freshman Team was led by BSU’s Jones. Joining Jones was Akron ’s Anthony “Humpty” Hitchens, Northern Illinois’ Mike DiNunno, Ohio ’s Steven Coleman and Western Michigan ’s Flenard Whitfield.
All-MAC First Team
Michael Bramos, Miami , G/F
Al Fisher, Kent State , G
Nate Miller, Bowling Green , F
Rodney Pierce, Buffalo , G
Jerome Tillman, Ohio , F
All-MAC Second Team
Darion “Jake” Anderson, Northern Illinois G
Brandon Bowdry, Eastern Michigan F
Brett McKnight, Akron , F
Tyrone Kent, Toledo , G
David Kool, Western Michigan , G
All-MAC Honorable Mention
Mike Allen , Ohio , G
Tyler Dierkers, Miami , F
Greg Gamble, Buffalo , G
Jarrod Jones, Ball State , F
Brandon Lampley, Ball State , G
Nate Linhart, Akron , F
Chris McKnight, Akron , F
Brian Moten, Bowling Green , G
Chris Singletary, Kent State , G/F
Marcus Van, Central Michigan , F/C
MAC All-Freshman Team
Anthony “Humpty” Hitchens, Akron , G
Jarrod Jones, Ball State , F
Mike DiNunno, Northern Illinois , G
Steven Coleman, Ohio , G
Flenard Whitfield, Western Michigan, F |
