Houston's Curl Named USBWA Coach of the Year
March 31, 2004 The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has named University of Houston head coach Joe Curl the National Coach of the Year for the 2003-04 season after the Lady Cougars finished 28-4 and made their first trip to the NCAA Tournament in 12 years. In his sixth season at Houston, Curl led the Cougars to a school-record 28 wins and the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Houston won the Conference USA regular-season and tournament titles and had won 13 straight games before losing to UC-Santa Barbara in the second round. In their first NCAA appearance in 12 seasons, the Lady Cougars defeated Wisconsin-Green Bay for their first-ever NCAA Tournament win. Just five years ago, in Curl's first season at UH, the Cougars were 5-22. Curl was also named ESPN.com coach of the year earlier this season Alana Beard was named the USBWA National Player of the Year and Texas forward Tiffany Jackson is the National Freshman of the Year. The USBWA, which will release its 2003-04 Women's All-America Team later this week, was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. The USBWA has awarded a women's player of the year since 1988 and a coach of the year since 1990. The organization's freshman of the year award was initiated last season (2003).
USBWA Women's Coaches of the Year
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