SHERMAN, Texas – Austin College women's basketball coach Michelle Filander has been named the South Region Coach of the Year by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, the organization has announced. Filander was one of eight finalists for the United States Marine Corps/WBCA Division III National Coach of the Year Award.
Filander, who is in her ninth season as the head coach of the 'Roos, guided the team to a 20-6 overall record and the program's first ever appearance in the D3Hoops.com Top 25, reaching as high as No. 19 in the nation. The 'Roos finished the season with a 13-3 record in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play, earning the No. 2-seed in the conference tournament. The 2018-19 season was the second straight year the 'Roos have notched 20 victories, marking the first time that has happened for the women's basketball program since the late 1990s.
Under Filander's guidance, the 'Roos placed six players on All-SCAC teams, led by SCAC Player of the Year Bryce Frank. It was the second straight year that Frank was named the conference's Player of the Year, and she and Ann Savage each brought home an individual statistical title after Frank led the nation in double-doubles and Savage paced all of NCAA Division III in assist-to-turnover ratio. The 'Roos led the SCAC in field goal percentage and assists-per-game, as well as rebounding margin.
Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.