Birky and Wood Named ACAC Men's Basketball Coaches of the Year
MEDICINE HAT, AB (March 1, 2017) – The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is proud to announce that Marty Birky of the SAIT Trojans (South Division) and Reagan Wood of the Concordia University of Edmonton Thunder (North Division) have been named the ACAC Men's Basketball Coaches of the Year.
This season was Birky's third as head coach of the Trojans, leading the team to their most wins (15) since the 2009/10 season. Birky becomes the first Trojans head coach to win the honour since Mike Stevens was awarded it in the 2009/10 season.
"Marty has clearly shared his passion for basketball with a group of very aspirational young men," said Wade Kolmel, SAIT Athletics and Recreation Director. "Along with his coaching staff, they have provided our players with the tools to succeed, and we wish them the best of luck as they drive for a berth at Nationals. The SAIT Trojans Athletics and Recreation Department congratulate Marty on this achievement."
North Division Coach of the Year recipient Reagan Wood is in his fifth season (2012 - current) as the head coach of the Concordia Thunder Men's Basketball program, and his 10th year overall, after five seasons (2007-2012) as an assistant.
This season, Wood led his team to a 20-4 record and first seed in the ACAC North going into the Championships.
Coach Wood received ACAC North Coach of the Year honours in his first season as the head coach in 2012-13. The following year (2013-14) he led the Thunder to a silver medal performance at the ACAC Championship, earning the program's first ever trip to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) National Championship.
Coach Wood continues to pursue his coaching education and is a Train-to-Compete (Level 3 NCCP) trained coach, along with a certified Learning Facilitator for the FUNdamentals and Learn to Train (Level 1 NCCP) levels.
Thunder Athletics Director Joel Mrak spoke highly of Wood as a well-deserved recipient of this year's selection. "Reagan has to be one of the most passionate coaches I have ever worked with." says Mrak. " The guy lives and breathes basketball and his love of the game is infectious to his athletes. Coach Wood has been generous with his time as he acts as a tutor, mentor and life coach outside of basketball, while trying to make his athletes the best student-athletes that they can be both on and off the court."
Birky and Wood received the awards on March 1st, 2017 at the ACAC Men's Basketball Conference Championship Banquet held in Medicine Hat, Alta.
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About the ACAC: The ACAC is the governing body for intercollegiate athletics in Alberta. Its mission is to foster the development of the student athlete through the administration and promotion of intercollegiate athletics as part of the educational experience and provide a leadership role in the development of sport in Alberta.
For more information on the ACAC, please visit our website: www.acac.ab.ca
For additional information, contact:
Brody Mark, SAIT Trojans Athletics
Media Consultant
403-630-4575
Brody.mark@sait.ca
Joel Mrak, Concordia Thunder
Athletic Director
780-479-9321
joel.mrak@concordia.ab.ca
Mark Kosak, ACAC
Chief Executive Officer
403-875-7329
markk@acac.ab.ca
Twitter: @acac_sport / #ACACMBB2017
Facebook: AlbertaCollegesAthleticConference