March 24, 2008

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State head men's basketball coach Ric Wesley was named the 2008 Basketball Times' DII Co-Coach of the Year it was announced Wednesday. Bentley head coach Jay Lawson was also named Co-Coach of the Year. Wesley and his #1-ranked 36-0 squad will square off against third-ranked Winona State (35-1) Wednesday, March 26 at 6 p.m. in an NCAA DII Elite Eight quarterfinal matchup. All Division II Elite Eight contests will be played at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass.

Wesley guided his 2008 team to the first 30-0 regular season mark in State of Michigan collegiate basketball history. GVSU claimed the GLIAC North Division crown, the GLIAC Tournament title and earned the right to host the first NCAA DII Great Lakes Regional in school history. GVSU defeated Findlay 75-58 in the title game and earned its second straight trip to the NCAA DII Elite Eight. Wesley, who owns a 110-19 record at Grand Valley State, was earlier named the 2008 GLIAC Coach of the Year and the NABC Great Lakes Regional Coach of the Year. Grand Valley State leads the nation in scoring defense (53.2) and field goal percentage defense (35.6).