Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Eikenberg named 'Rawlings' MVC Coach of the Year
03/08/2007 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
March 8, 2007
DES MOINES, Iowa - Southern Illinois' Dana Eikenberg was voted the Rawlings Coach of the Year, announced at a special awards luncheon Thursday in Des Moines, Iowa, the site of the 2007 State Farm MVC Women's Basketball Championship.
The league's top coaching honor goes to Southern Illinois' head coach Dana Eikenberg. Eikenberg, in her third year at Southern Illinois, has produced arguably the biggest turnaround in Division I Women's Basketball. Just two years ago, her team produced one conference win, while last year, it finished with six. This season, her team went 16-2 in league play and won its first MVC regular-season title since 1989-90, while also reaching the 20-win plateau for just the ninth time in school history. SIU is currently winners of eight straight and 14 of its last 15 heading into tourney play.
Eikenberg is the first SIU coach chosen since Cindy Scott collected the honor in 1986, then again in 1987.
The league's specialty awards were presented at the league's Rawlings Coach of the Year and All-Conference luncheon that tipped off the four-day, 10-team tournament.
Illinois State's Kristi Cirone was named the Jackie Stiles Player of the year. Evansville's Rebekah Parker was tabbed league Defensive Player of the Year while Kelsey Luna of Indiana State is the league's Freshman of the Year. Megan Neuvirth of Creighton earned the league's award for Newcomer of the Year (top first-year non-freshman).
Specialty Award Winners
JACKIE STILES PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Kristi Cirone, Illinois State
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Megan Neuvirth, Creighton
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Kelsey Luna, Indiana State
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Rebekah Parker, Evansville
`RAWLINGS' MVC COACH OF THE YEAR: Dana Eikenberg, Southern Illinois
