UAZip0510 Posted March 4, 2012 Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 When Keith Dambrot took over the Akron Zips, they were coming off of a 13-15 season and a 1st Round MAC Tournament exit. The program had three winning records in its twelve seasons in the Mid American Conference. They had never advanced beyond the quarterfinals in the MAC Tournament. As an assistant in Dan Hipsher's final season as head coach, Keith played a large role in recruiting two players (Dru Joyce and Romero Travis) largely unnoticed by other schools. These two players would help Dambrot begin the rebirth of Akron Zips basketball. Starting with 2004-2005, Dambrot has led the Akron Zips to eight straight winning seasons and seven straight 20+ win seasons. Dambrot now has 291 career victories at The University of Akron. His teams have played in the MAC Tournament Final for five straight years, winning two of the past three. He's led them to five (soon to be six) postseason appearances (2 NCAA, 2 NIT, 1 CBI). During his eight year tenure, seven players have been added to the school's 1,000-point scorer's list. He helped turn Dru Joyce into the school's all-time assist leader and Romeo Travis into the MAC Player of the Year and an All-American Honorable Mention. He helped two players (Nate Linhart and Jimmy Conyers) to be named MAC Defensive Player of the Year, two (Cedrick Middleton and Brett McKnight) to be named as MAC Sixth Man of the Year, and two (Nate Linhart and Zeke Marshall) to be named MAC Tournament MVP. Even with this impressive list of accomplishments, Keith Dambrot has never won Mid American Conference Coach of the Year. This season, Dambrot knew he would be tested. He had just lost four seniors (Steve McNees, Darryl Roberts, Brett McKnight, and Mike Bardo), giving him the 16th youngest team in Division I-A basketball. Six of his players weren't on last year's active roster and four of his rotation players (including two starters) didn't play a minute of college basketball last season. His work was cut out for him. However, the adversity didn't stop there. It started in November, when the Zips lost a heartbreaker to Valparaiso, followed by a defeat by Duquesne. During that game, Nikola Cvetinovic openly argued with teammates and coaches on the bench, leading an assistant coach to send the senior forward to the locker room in the middle of the game. The Zips seemed to rebound in the next game with a win against Detroit, but then things really got bad when Alex Abreu was suspended for two games. His backup, Deji Ibatayo, was also suffering from a minor injury, leaving the Zips without a healthy true point guard. Things got even worse when Dambrot made the difficult decision of suspending Demetrius Treadwell for a violation of team rules. Predictably, a powerful beating from West Virginia followed. Abreu returned for the next game against Middle Tennessee, but it wasn't enough to prevent another huge loss. With Treadwell set to return in the next game against Cleveland State, the Zips seemed ready to bounce back. However, hours before tipoff, it was announced that Nick Harney would be suspended for a violation of team rules. Although they fought hard, the Zips lost their third straight game. Harney would miss the next four games. Finally, on December 29th, Akron had its full roster for the first time in a month. Akron would lose a tight contest to VCU that night, leading some to question if the team was good enough to win the MAC. The Zips responded. After defeating Marshall in their next game, the team started an incredible conference run with a win at Miami. Akron would go on to win twelve of its first thirteen MAC games before being embarrassing by Ohio University on national television. With a chance to clinch the #1 seed, they followed the OU debacle by losing a close game to Buffalo at home. Again, the team and coaching staff were questioned. The Zips responded once again, this time with an emotional win over arch-rival Can't State on ESPN 2, locking up the #1 tournament seed and MAC Regular Season Title. This has been the most difficult year of Keith Dambrot's tenure at The University of Akron, and yet, working through injuries, suspensions, and a transformed roster full of inexperienced players, the Zips are in a familiar place - the MAC Tournament Semi-Finals, two wins away from another NCAA Tournament berth. Keith Dambrot has revived the Akron Zips basketball program and, in his toughest test to date, has his team on the cusp of another historic season. I cannot imagine any coach more deserving of the Mid American Conference's Coach of the Year award. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RootforRoo44 Posted March 4, 2012 Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 good pitch...but we have not been to the postseason in 5 consecutive seasons. 2006 (NIT), 2007 (nothing), 2008 (NIT), 2009 (NCAA), 2010 (CBI), 2011 (NCAA) five outta six! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UAZip0510 Posted March 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 good pitch...but we have not been to the postseason in 5 consecutive seasons. 2006 (NIT), 2007 (nothing), 2008 (NIT), 2009 (NCAA), 2010 (CBI), 2011 (NCAA) five outta six! Good call! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bandzip Posted March 4, 2012 Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 2006 (NIT), 2007 (nothing), 2008 (NIT), 2009 (NCAA), 2010 (CBI), 2011 (NCAA), 2012 (At least NIT, hopefully NCAA) five straight, and 6 out of 7! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UAZip0510 Posted March 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 2006 (NIT), 2007 (nothing), 2008 (NIT), 2009 (NCAA), 2010 (CBI), 2011 (NCAA), 2012 (At least NIT, hopefully NCAA) five straight, and 6 out of 7! Good call once again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted March 4, 2012 Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 It is pretty funny when you think that probably our best team ever (2007) got snubbed from postseason play. Something is definitely wrong in Selection Committee Land. But, I don't think it's ever going to change. I'm not sure if this season was Keith's best job of getting the most out of his talent. At many times we've had a team that played below its talent, so he may have been more deserving in other seasons. But, I think he did alot to grow a team with plenty of newcomers into a winner. And also, if you look around at Coaches OF The Year, I think you'll find that winning the league title is a major factor. We've finally won the league. Maybe the bigger question: Who else could possibly even get it? Maybe only Reggie? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil Posted March 4, 2012 Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 Keith deserves this honor. The one thing that has benn constant under Keith's program is that his players improve dramatically between their freshman and senior years. Nate Linhart, Dru Joyce Steve McNees Jerimiah Wood graduated as vastly improved players as a result of Keith's coaching. The Serb has improved his game and his temperment since his freshman year. Look how much Zeke has improved since his freshman year. With past coaches in the Akron program, you did not see the vast improvement of play that you see with Keith. Even Tree's game has improved a great deal during this season. He has my vote. (if I had one) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jupitertoo Posted March 4, 2012 Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 I agree. Frankly, KD should have won this three times by now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilltopper Posted March 4, 2012 Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 I expect KD to get the Rodney treatment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quickzips Posted March 4, 2012 Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 As much as KD deserves this award this year, I doubt he gets it. More likely one of the MAC West coaches (probably from Toledo or EMU) will take the honors simply for overachieving. That is how this award usually works. The team that noone expected to do as well as they did will get the coach of the year award. The highest scoring upper-classman on one of the top two or three teams will get PotY, and the Zips will be left with nothing more than an NCAA berth to drown their tears in. Ohh well, guess we will have to try and suck next year so that we can exceed expectations in 2013-14 and KD can finally get some recognition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted March 4, 2012 Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 The voters are saving up for a few years from now when they can name KD coach of the decade without ever having won coach of the year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Z Posted March 4, 2012 Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 Does KD have a bonus in his contract for winning this "award?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zipmeister Posted March 4, 2012 Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 Keith deserves this honor. The one thing that has benn constant under Keith's program is that his players improve dramatically between their freshman and senior years. Nate Linhart, Dru Joyce Steve McNees Jerimiah Wood graduated as vastly improved players as a result of Keith's coaching. The Serb has improved his game and his temperment since his freshman year. Look how much Zeke has improved since his freshman year. With past coaches in the Akron program, you did not see the vast improvement of play that you see with Keith. Even Tree's game has improved a great deal during this season. He has my vote. (if I had one) Nitro and I would both vote for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Let'sGoZips94 Posted March 4, 2012 Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 KD should get it because of how young we are and we went 12-3 in the MAC, winning both the MAC East and MAC regular season title. However, Reggie at Buffalo or Kowalczyk at Toledo are also probably up there in the running. It'll be interesting to see what happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OZoner Posted March 5, 2012 Report Share Posted March 5, 2012 Rob Murphy will get a vote or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted March 5, 2012 Report Share Posted March 5, 2012 As much as KD deserves this award this year, I doubt he gets it. More likely one of the MAC West coaches (probably from Toledo or EMU) will take the honors simply for overachieving. Remember, we've had overachieving teams too, and Keith didn't get it. I'm really hoping that the title gives him the edge this time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxpayer Posted March 5, 2012 Report Share Posted March 5, 2012 It's hard to believe KD hasn't won this award previously. With all the new players he was infused into the lineup and how he's handled the injuries and suspensions that could have sent this team down the drain, he seems like the choice this year. It's not easy keeping 9 or 10 competitive players happy and productive. Win two in Cleveland and it's a lock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OZoner Posted March 5, 2012 Report Share Posted March 5, 2012 Hey. Jerry Sloan never won COY, either. And he'll be in the Hall of Fame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jalapeño Zippy Posted March 5, 2012 Report Share Posted March 5, 2012 I don't think Reggie should get it. He's starting 4 seniors, nothing but experience has led to their achievement. Toledo has turned their program around but how much of it is the coach and how much of it is Pierson (sp?)? KD has had to manage much more than anyone. KD has a completely new roster while losing 4 contributing seniors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FromdaBurgh Posted March 5, 2012 Report Share Posted March 5, 2012 When will they reveal the results? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RootforRoo44 Posted March 5, 2012 Report Share Posted March 5, 2012 When will they reveal the results? they just did Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachTheZip Posted March 5, 2012 Report Share Posted March 5, 2012 The "MAC News Media Association" that gets voting rights on this stuff is a joke. I believe that Elton Alexander is in charge of it, or was a few years ago. They don't let the people who do all of the actual reporting in the association. It's just a bunch of disinterested beat reporters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OZoner Posted March 5, 2012 Report Share Posted March 5, 2012 The "MAC News Media Association" that gets voting rights on this stuff is a joke. I believe that Elton Alexander is in charge of it, or was a few years ago. They don't let the people who do all of the actual reporting in the association. It's just a bunch of disinterested beat reporters. Quoted for truth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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