2011 Clarence "Big House" Gaines National Coach of the Year Award

STEVE KINDER WINS THE 2011 CLARENCE "BIG HOUSE" GAINES AWARD


HOUSTON, TX --Steve Kinder rode a fantastic debut as Humboldt State?s head coach all the way to the 2011 Clarence Gaines Award.

Kinder got the promotion to the top job after 20 years as an assistant to Tom Wood, who retired following the 2009-2010 campaing. As Wood?s right hand man, Kinder helped HSU to eight NCAA postseason appearances in the past nine years.

Not that much seemed to change this season after Kinder took over as the Lumberjacks achieved a CCAA regular season championship en route to a 26-4 record. HSU achieved a number three seed in the NCAA Division II West Region Tournament, making that none NCAA bids in 10 years. For his efforts, Kinder was also named the CCAA Coach of the Year.

The Clarence Gaines Award, which is presented annually by CollegeInsider.com to the top Division II basketball coach, is named in honor of the former Winston-Salem State head coach. He retired from the school in 1993 with a record of 828-446, which at the time made him the winningest active basketball coach in NCAA history .