The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Vic Schaefer named semifinalist for Werner Ladder Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year
03.09.2023 | Women's Basketball
Schaefer is among 10 semifinalists for the coach of the year award.
AUSTIN, Texas — University of Texas Women's Basketball Head Coach Vic Schaefer has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the 2023 Werner Ladder Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year Award, the Naismith Awards and the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced on Thursday.
After replacing four starters from the 2021-22 team, adding three new assistant coaches and facing numerous injuries, Schaefer guided the Longhorns to their first regular season conference championship since the 2004 season. This season the Longhorns have had a combined 45 games missed by starters due to injury. In three seasons in Austin, Schaefer has taken Texas to back-to-back Elite Eight appearances, a Big 12 Tournament Championship and a Big 12 regular season championship. Schaefer is 73-25 at Texas and has posted a record of 38-8 in March over his last six seasons.
Texas has five wins over ranked opponents this season, including two wins over No. 12 Oklahoma and a win over then No. 15 Iowa State. Texas is No. 11 in the NCAA Women's Basketball NET Rankings and was ranked No. 13 in the latest NCAA selection committee top 16 reveal.
In 2018 Schaefer was the Naismith National Coach of the Year, WBCA National Coach of the Year and USBWA National Coach of the Year.
No. 15/16 Texas (23-8, 14-4) is the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship. UT earned a No. 1 seed, marking the highest seed for the Longhorns since they earned the No. 1 seed in 2004. The Longhorns will open play in a quarterfinal-round contest against either No. 8 seed Texas Tech or No. 9 seed Kansas State on Friday, March 10 at 1:30 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU/ESPN+ and will be played at Municipal Auditorium in Kanas City, Mo.
The award's four finalists will be announced on Monday, March 20. The Fan Vote to help narrow the list down to the final honoree will open Tuesday, March 21, and close Tuesday, March 28. The fan vote will account for five percent of the overall final vote. The 2023 Werner Ladder Naismith Trophy for Women's Coach of the Year will be awarded on Wednesday, March 29 during the Women's Final Four.
2023 Werner Ladder Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year Semifinalists
|
Coach |
School |
|
Lisa Bluder |
Iowa |
|
Kenny Brooks |
Virginia Tech |
|
Denise Dillon |
Villanova |
|
Niele Ivey |
Notre Dame |
|
Teri Moren |
Indiana |
|
Kim Mulkey |
LSU |
|
Lynne Roberts |
Utah |
|
Texas |
|
|
Dawn Staley |
South Carolina |
|
Joe Tartamella |
St. John's |
