Tuesday, March 10, 2009

MORAVIAN’S MARY BETH SPIRK NAMED RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA REGIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR

ATLANTA, GA --- Moravian College head women’s basketball coach Mary Beth Spirk has been named the 2009 RUSSELL ATHLETIC/Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Division III Region 4 Coach of the Year announced Tuesday.

Spirk guided the Greyhounds to a 21-7 mark this season, a 10-4 record in Landmark Conference action and the program’s seventh NCAA Division III Tournament berth.  In 22 seasons as Moravian’s coach, Spirk has led the program to a 409-195 record, six NCAA Tournament appearances with a 7-6 mark in NCAA action including a berth in the 1992 National Championship game, two conference titles and an ECAC South Championship in 2007.

This is the fourth time Spirk has been honored as the regional coach of the year by the WBCA, earning the honor in 1990, 1991 and 1992.  She was also the WBCA’s National Coach of the Year in 1992 after Moravian posted a 31-2 mark and hosted the National Championship game in Johnston Hall.  Spirk has earned conference Coach of the Year honors eight times during her career, most recently in 2008 in Moravian’s inaugural Landmark Conference season.