The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Randy Norton Named Conference USA Coach of the Year
3/7/2018 10:35:00 AM | Women's Basketball
FRISCO, Texas – After guiding the UAB women's basketball team to its most successful season in program history, fifth-year head coach Randy Norton has been named the Conference USA Coach of the Year, the league office announced on Wednesday.
Norton is the third coach in program history to win Coach of the Year honors and the first in the C-USA era. Jeannie Milling was the most recent UAB coach to garner the recognition following the 1989-90 season.
"What Coach Norton has accomplished this season has been incredible," Director of Athletics Mark Ingram said. "One of our three goals at UAB is to win championships and Randy has proven that he is committed to bringing that level of excellence day-in and day-out. He is very deserving of this honor and we couldn't be more proud of him, his staff and the team."
After being picked to finish in seventh place in the league's preseason poll, Norton led UAB to its first-ever Conference USA Regular Season Championship after its 74-66 win over UTSA on March 3. That win gave the Blazers their 24th victory on the year, matching the school record for most wins in a season with 1990-91 and 1991-92 teams, while giving the Green and Gold their 13th conference win of the season, also a program best.
Of those wins, UAB went an impressive 11-1 on the road, including an 8-0 mark in conference play, to clinch the most-ever road victories in school history, while its 12 wins inside the friendly confines of Bartow Arena are the second-most all-timeh. Under Norton's tutelage this season, the Blazers recorded their first 20-win season since 2010-11 and their ninth in program history.
Norton has guided the team to one of its most explosive offensive seasons ever. UAB has already shattered the school record for the most 3-pointers in a single season in program history (234) and is just 22 assists shy of the single-season assists record (238). The Blazers are also on pace to break the school record in assist/turnover ratio (1.4) and 3-point field goal percentage (39.3).
His coaching efforts this season saw three players earn All-Conference honors as Rachael Childress and Deanna Kuzmanic were both named First Team All-Conference and Miyah Barnes was named Second Team All-Conference.
Childress has continued to flourish in the Green and Gold, leading the offense in scoring with 14.1 points per contest while posting the nation's 10th-best 3-point field goal percentage at 45.1 percent. Her career night at UTEP saw her become the only Blazer this season to claim C-USA Player of the Week honors and National Player of the Week honors as part of the NCAA Starting Five.
Kuzmanic has been the Blazers' most consistent player, averaging 13.9 points per game, while ranking second on the team in assists (108) and first in steals (41). On Feb. 24, she became the 28th-member of UAB's 1,000-point club with her career-high 35 points against Louisiana Tech and has since moved her way to 26th on the school's all-time scoring list.
Barnes has been the most unselfish player under Norton, dishing out the second most assists in the league this year at 145. Her assist total has played a huge role in the team's success this season and it has shown as the Blazers are now 22 assists shy of breaking the single-season school record.
UAB now turns its attention to the Conference USA Tournament, which begins on Thursday at 11 a.m. The Blazers will await the winner of the 8/9 game, which will be contested on Wednesday at 11 a.m.
For more information on the UAB women's basketball team follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_WBB), Instagram (UAB_WBBALL) or like them on Facebook (Facebook.com/UABWBB).
Norton is the third coach in program history to win Coach of the Year honors and the first in the C-USA era. Jeannie Milling was the most recent UAB coach to garner the recognition following the 1989-90 season.
"What Coach Norton has accomplished this season has been incredible," Director of Athletics Mark Ingram said. "One of our three goals at UAB is to win championships and Randy has proven that he is committed to bringing that level of excellence day-in and day-out. He is very deserving of this honor and we couldn't be more proud of him, his staff and the team."
After being picked to finish in seventh place in the league's preseason poll, Norton led UAB to its first-ever Conference USA Regular Season Championship after its 74-66 win over UTSA on March 3. That win gave the Blazers their 24th victory on the year, matching the school record for most wins in a season with 1990-91 and 1991-92 teams, while giving the Green and Gold their 13th conference win of the season, also a program best.
Of those wins, UAB went an impressive 11-1 on the road, including an 8-0 mark in conference play, to clinch the most-ever road victories in school history, while its 12 wins inside the friendly confines of Bartow Arena are the second-most all-timeh. Under Norton's tutelage this season, the Blazers recorded their first 20-win season since 2010-11 and their ninth in program history.
Norton has guided the team to one of its most explosive offensive seasons ever. UAB has already shattered the school record for the most 3-pointers in a single season in program history (234) and is just 22 assists shy of the single-season assists record (238). The Blazers are also on pace to break the school record in assist/turnover ratio (1.4) and 3-point field goal percentage (39.3).
His coaching efforts this season saw three players earn All-Conference honors as Rachael Childress and Deanna Kuzmanic were both named First Team All-Conference and Miyah Barnes was named Second Team All-Conference.
Childress has continued to flourish in the Green and Gold, leading the offense in scoring with 14.1 points per contest while posting the nation's 10th-best 3-point field goal percentage at 45.1 percent. Her career night at UTEP saw her become the only Blazer this season to claim C-USA Player of the Week honors and National Player of the Week honors as part of the NCAA Starting Five.
Kuzmanic has been the Blazers' most consistent player, averaging 13.9 points per game, while ranking second on the team in assists (108) and first in steals (41). On Feb. 24, she became the 28th-member of UAB's 1,000-point club with her career-high 35 points against Louisiana Tech and has since moved her way to 26th on the school's all-time scoring list.
Barnes has been the most unselfish player under Norton, dishing out the second most assists in the league this year at 145. Her assist total has played a huge role in the team's success this season and it has shown as the Blazers are now 22 assists shy of breaking the single-season school record.
UAB now turns its attention to the Conference USA Tournament, which begins on Thursday at 11 a.m. The Blazers will await the winner of the 8/9 game, which will be contested on Wednesday at 11 a.m.
For more information on the UAB women's basketball team follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_WBB), Instagram (UAB_WBBALL) or like them on Facebook (Facebook.com/UABWBB).
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