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March 7, 2000
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — University of Virginia women’s basketball coach Debbie Ryan was named the ACC Coach of the Year by the Atlantic Coast Sportswriters Association today. This is the seventh time Ryan has won the award in her 23-year career. Virginia finished the regular season at 22-7 and finished first in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 13-3 league record.
“This is a huge honor for my staff and my players,” said Ryan. “I’ve been blessed with a tremendous staff this year. They have done an incredible job of keeping this team focussed and ready to play, helping players through ups and downs and keeping the players motivated. I just can’t’ say enough about them as a coaching staff. The players have done a fabulous job all year long.”
Virginia, ranked 19th in the latest AP and USA Today polls, turned its season around after posting its worst start in 23 years at 4-4. The Cavaliers then won 10 straight games, were 4-0 against teams in the Top 10 in the latter part of the season and surprised the league by winning the ACC regular season title.
Ryan won the same honor in 1984, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1993 and 1995. She has won 20 or more games 18 times and holds a career record of 524-182 for a winning percentage of 74.2 percent.