Posted: 03/12/2013
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Lehigh head men’s basketball coach Brett Reed is one of only 20 finalists in the nation for the Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award, as announced by CollegeInsider.com on Tuesday. The award was established in 2008 to honor those who not only achieve success on the basketball court, but who also display moral integrity off it as well. This season, Reed has become Lehigh’s all-time winningest coach and the fastest coach in Patriot League history to 100 career victories.
Three of the 20 finalists are from the Patriot League: Reed, Zach Spiker (Army) and Dave Paulsen (Bucknell). Other finalists include John Beilein (Michigan), Tony Bennett (Virginia), Jim Larranaga (Miami), John Thompson III (Georgetown) and more. Loyola’s Jimmy Patsos won the award last year.
The award is named in honor of Prosser, who posted a career record of 291-146 in 14 seasons as a head coach. During his time at Wake Forest, his teams averaged 21 wins per season while playing in arguably the nation's most difficult league, the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The 2013 recipient will be announced at the CollegeInsider.com awards banquet in Atlanta, site of the men's NCAA Basketball Championship.
Reed won his 100th career game on Dec. 1 against Fairleigh Dickinson, doing so in his 165th game to become the fastest coach in league history to that milestone. It came one game faster than Holy Cross’ Ralph Willard who reached 100 in game 166. Reed then broke the school wins record against Navy on Feb. 27, winning his 113th career game.
Lehigh continues to be extremely active in the community under Reed, making several school visits while making a difference in the Bethlehem community. The Mountain Hawks also excel academically, highlighted by senior Gabe Knutson who’s made the Academic All-Patriot League Team all three years of the award’s existence.
Reed and the Mountain Hawks advanced to their fourth straight Patriot League Semifinal this season and have eclipsed 20 wins for the third time in the last four years. The Mountain Hawks’ season may or may not be over as they could be invited to a national postseason tournament. Check back to Lehighsports.com for everything Lehigh men’s basketball.
Like Lehigh Men’s Basketball on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive content, team updates and more. Click here to vote C.J. McCollum for the Senior CLASS Award.
2013 SKIP PROSSER AWARD FINALISTS
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John Beilein
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Michigan
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Tony Bennett
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Virginia
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Rick Byrd
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Belmont
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Kermit Davis
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Middle Tennessee
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Billy Donlon
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Wright State
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Jim Engles
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NJIT
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John Gallagher
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Hartford
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Anthony Grant
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Alabama
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Ben Jacobson
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Northern Iowa
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Jim Larranaga
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Miami
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Ryan Marks
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UT-Pan American
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Bob McKilop
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Davidson
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Joe Mihalich
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Niagara
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Jimmy Patsos
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Loyola
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Dave Paulsen
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Bucknell
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Brett Reed
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Lehigh
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Zach Spiker
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Army
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Bob Thomason
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Pacific
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John Thompson III
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Georgetown
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Bruce Weber
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Kansas State
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