Men's Basketball | 03.27.2020

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – After a historic season at the helm of the No. 6 Lewis-Clark State Men's Basketball team, Head Coach Austin Johnson became the first Warrior Men's Basketball coach to be named the NABC NAIA Division I Coach of the Year. In his second season leading LC State, Johnson led the Warriors to the best finish in program history with a winning percentage of .906 (29-3). The Warriors captured the Frontier Conference regular season title before winning the Frontier Conference Tournament on their home court, and Johnson was voted the Frontier Conference Coach of the Year.
 
"I can't think of anyone more deserving of this award than Coach Johnson," Associate Head Coach Leif Karlberg said. "From the moment he took this job, he has set the tone for our program with his work ethic, energy and servant leadership. He is always the first to give credit to others. I believe that the balance, toughness and love for one another that this year's team embodied is a direct reflection of his leadership."
 
"An award like this only comes from the investment and togetherness of a group of people," Johnson said. "It's a reflection of how elite our team was this year and I can't thank the players enough for buying in and making winning decisions all year long. They competed with confidence and joy that was sustained from the day they set foot on campus to the day the season ended."
 
The Warriors were statistically one of the best teams in the nation. LC State ranked second in NAIA DI in 3-pointers made per game (11.38), total 3-pointers made (364), assist/turnover ratio (1.54) and 3-point field goal percentage (.428). The Warriors were third in field goal percentage defense (.398), scoring margin (21.25) and scoring defense per game (64.0).
 
LC State had two All-Americans this season, with Damek Mitchell being voted third team and Trystan Bradley earning honorable mention. Johnson coached four All-Frontier Conference student-athletes, including the conference's Co-Defender of the Year and the Sixth-Man of the Year. The Warriors led the Frontier Conference with eight Academic All-Frontier Conference selections.
 
"The Warrior family is extremely proud and excited for Coach Johnson," Athletic Director Brooke Henze said. "He is very deserving of this honor for several reasons. He is a great coach, teacher, husband, father and role model to the young men in the program both on and off the court. His success with wins and losses on the court is matched by the success of his student-athletes in the classroom."
 
Johnson is the first Warrior coach outside of baseball to be named the National Coach of the Year by a major organization.
 
"We are incredibly proud of Coach Austin Johnson," LC State President Cynthia Pemberton said. "He is a quality educator, coach and individual. Coach Johnson lives the Warrior Way as a person and education professional, and his team's success as well as this honor reflect that. We applaud and celebrate with him in this well-deserved award."
 
"It's also very much a staff award with an added emphasis on the work Leif Karlberg does as Associate Head Coach," Johnson added. "A special thanks should go to my wife, Kelli, who has been an unbelievable support to both myself and our program. Lastly, thank you to the LC administration of Dr. Cynthia Pemberton and Brooke Henze. I'm grateful to be at such a great school representing such an awesome community here in the LC Valley. Go Warriors!"