KUTZTOWN, PA (July 29, 2010) – Chris Blum was selected as the Kutztown Men’s Coach of the Year after leading the baseball team deep into postseason play. Tim Flannery was named the Kutztown Women’s Coach of the Year for his efforts in guiding the swimming team to its best season in school history.
For Blum this was the third time in the last five years he was named Men's Coach of the Year. This is the first time Flannery has been maed Women's Coach of the Year.
Blum led the Golden Bears win the NCAA Atlantic Region tournament and a trip to the NCAA Division II Baseball National Championships in Cary, NC. During the season, Blum became the all-time winningest coach in Kutztown baseball history. He also won his 300th career contest after leading the Golden Bears to a 42-15 overall record. Blum was named the ABCA/Rawlings Atlantic Region Coach of the Year.
Meanwhile, Flannery enjoyed a season like no other as he was named Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Women’s Swimming Coach of the Year. The Golden Bears placed fourth at the PSAC Championships, advanced six swimmers to the national Championships, earned three All-America honors, five All-America honorable mention honors and placed 16th at the NCAA Division II championship meet. The PSAC finish was the highest in Kutztown history. Flannery also earned his 100th career dual meet victory during the season.
Together, both coaches helped continue the standard of excellence established recently by the Kutztown University athletics department. They have raised the bar for the 2010-11 season.
The nominees for KU’s year-end awards were voted upon by members of the KU athletics department staff. The awards will be formally presented at halftime of the Sept. 11 football game vs. Mercyhurst.
ROOKIES OF THE YEAR AWARDS
ATHLETES OF THE YEAR AWARDS TO BE RELEASED FRIDAY
PREVIOUS COACH OF THE YEAR AWARDS
1987 Al Zellner, Women's Soccer
1988 Rick Binder, Men's Basketball
1989 Betty Wesner, Field Hockey
1990 Judy Lawes, Softball
1991 Tom York, Women's Basketball
1992 Barry Fetterman, Football
1993 W: Petty Weldon (Cross-Country); M: Dan Hinkel (Wrestling)
1994 W: Judy Lawes (Softball); M: Brian Mondschein (Track and Field)
1995 W: Judy Lawes (Sofball); M: Brian Mondschein (Track and Field)
1996 W: Ken Ralph (Swimming); M: Dan Hinkel (Wrestling)
1997 W: Brian Mondschein (Track and Field); M: Matt Royer (Baseball)
1998 W: Betty Wesner (Field Hockey); M: Brian Mondschein (Track and Field)
1999 W: John Gump (Volleyball); M: Matt Royer (Baseball)
2000 W: Judy Lawes (Softball); M: Brian Mondschein (Track and Field)
2001 W: Ray Hoffman (Track and Field); M: Matt Royer (Baseball)
2002 W: Ray Hoffman (Cross-Country); M: Matt Royer (Baseball)
2003 W: John Gump (Volleyball); M: Bernie Driscoll (Basketball)
2004 W: Jeff Schellenberger (Soccer); M: Bernie Driscoll (Basketball)
2005 W: Jeff Schellenberger (Soccer); M: Suresh Ramamurthi (Tennis)
2006 W: Brian Mondschein (Track and Field); M: Chris Blum (Baseball)
2007 W: Judy Lawes (Softball); M: Chris Blum (Baseball)
2008 W: Judy Lawes (Softball); M: Bernie Driscoll (Basketball)
2009 W: Judy Lawes (Softball); M: Bernie Driscoll (Basketball)
2010 W: Tim Flannery (Swimming); M: Chris Blum (Baseball)