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Goestenkors Tabbed Associated Press Coach of the Year
CLEVELAND, Ohio ? For the first time in her 15-year career, Duke University women’s basketball coach Gail Goestenkors has been tabbed Associated Press (AP) National Coach of the Year, which was released at the AP press conference on Saturday here at the Final Four.
Oklahoma’s Courtney Paris also earned National Player of the Year also at the press conference, which was decided on a very close vote. Duke’s Lindsey Harding and Tennessee’s Candace Parker finished tied for second in the voting, just two votes shy of Paris.
Just completing her 15th season with the Blue Devils, Goestenkors has now been selected National Coach of the Year by the Associated Press, USBWA and the WBCA this season. She has also earned National Coach of the Year in 2006 (USA Basketball), 2003 (WBCA, Victor Award, Naismith), 2002 (GBallMag.com), 2000 (Basketball Times) and 1999 (Victor Award).
Goestenkors did one of her best coaching jobs of her career in 2006-07 as the Blue Devils entered the postseason ranked No. 1 nationally in the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN Top 25 Coaches’ Polls with a spotless regular season record of 29-0. Duke became the first ACC team and only the 14th in NCAA history to finish the regular season undefeated. She also led Duke to its seventh straight 30-win season, an unprecedented mark and NCAA record.
All of this was done even though the Blue Devils lost three seniors-- Monique Currie, Mistie Williams and Jessica Foley-- as well was being without the services of expected starter Chante Black. Duke went into the season with only four student-athletes who had seen significant action last season, but Goestenkors was able to get the best out of her squad. All 10 players who played in 2006-07, saw their minutes and contributions improved from a year ago.
Duke registered a 14-0 record in ACC action this season, which marked the third time the Blue Devils had posted an undefeated mark in ACC regular season play. In 2001-02 and 2002-03, Duke had notched a 16-0 record in league action. The Blue Devils also picked up their eighth overall ACC Regular Season title and its sixth out of the last seven years.
The Blue Devils advanced to the NCAA Tournament final 16 before falling to Rutgers, 53-52. Duke concluded the season with a 32-2 record.
