Vincent named Coach of Year

Former California University women's basketball coach Darcie Vincent has been named Coach of the Year in the Southern Conference.

Vincent, in her second season at Appalachian State, has quickly turned around the Mountaineers' program. After finishing 9-22 overall and 7-13 in the conference and ending last season eighth in the league standings, Appalachian State finished the this season third in the conference with a 14-6 record and an 18-11 overall mark. The 18 wins and 14 conference victories are the most in a season for the Mountaineers since 1995-96.

Vincent's team is the youngest in the Southern Conference, with only one upperclassman in a playing capacity and four freshman totaling 50 percent of the team's minutes played and 53 percent of its scoring.

Vincent coached California to the 2004 NCAA Division II national championship. One of ASU's assistants is Heather Kearney, who succeeded Vincent as Cal's coach for the 2008-09 season.