WILLIAMSTOWN, MASS. – In his seventh year as the head coach of the Williams College Ephs
Kevin App has guided the Ephs to a record of 131-59 .689 and this year he was named the D3Hoops.com's Region I Coach of the Year.
App whose first job coaching college basketball came as an assistant coach under
Mike Maker at Williams also has had his career further shaped in Williamstown by his first head coaching opportunity in college basketball also coming at Williams.
This year in a season marked with starts and stops due to the Covid 19 pandemic, App guided the Ephs to a record of 19-5 and an appearance in the NCAA DIII Sweet 16. The Ephs won their first eight games to open the 2021-22 season and then had three games postponed due to Covid 19 complications, which generated a span of 28 days without a game.
Williams won their next four games to improve to 12-0, before Covid 19 issues arose again and they were unable to play another game for an additional 18days and when they returned to the court on February 7 they were down six players including three starters and they suffered a defeat at the hands of Little Three foe Wesleyan and conference opponent Tufts before getting back on the winning track.
The Eph season ended in a loss to Wabash College in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in a game played in Bloomington, Ill. on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University.
When asked about his honor App replied, "To whomever votes on these awards, thank you. Individual recognition at Williams almost always follows team success, so I'm thrilled the team had some success. Similarly, I hope our assistant coaches,
Steve Phillips and
Justin Sosinsky take some pride in the award, since they do more for me and the team than anyone knows.
"It's been a long 2 years, and the players deserve the credit for remaining connected and committed to each other and their big goals. Our staff just enjoyed being around this team - their personalities, talent, and selflessness - and watching them grow.
"If I were in charge of leagues and regions, I probably would've extended a blanket award to all coaches this year. I've been impressed and motivated by how I've seen others come together, put the student-athletes first, and lead their programs through uncertainty and challenges. You learn a lot about leaders in difficult times, and our region, and the NESCAC, should be proud of the people they have guiding, teaching, and supporting our student-athletes."
