MACOMB, IL – Western Illinois University has announced that Men’s Basketball coach Chad Boudreau was named one of 16 finalists for the 2023-24 Joe B. Hall National Coach of the Year Award.
The award is presented annually to the top rookie, first-year head coach in division I college basketball. The Joe B. Hall award is named in honor of longtime Kentucky head coach Joe B. Hall who was given the task of following the legendary Adolph Rupp at the school.
In his first season as Leatherneck head coach, Boudreau led Western Illinois to a 21-12 overall record. The 21 wins were the most for the program since the 2012-13 season. The 13 conference victories are the most for the program since 2012-13 as well. Boudreau’s 21 wins are the most for a first-year coach in program history, breaking Stix Morley’s record 19-win season in 1947-48. Western Illinois also won 10 true road games, finishing among the top five in the country.
The recipient of the annual award is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of collegeinsider.com. The 2024 award will be announced in Phoenix, AZ, site of the men’s Division I Basketball Championship.
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