Schmidt Named Sporting News Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year

March 6, 2012 Sporting News Conference Awards ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - St. Bonaventure head coach Mark Schmidt was chosen by staff writers and editors at Sporting News as the Atlantic 10 Conference Coach of the Year, the publication announced on its website Tuesday. Schmidt guided the Bonnies to a 17-11 overall record, going 10-6 in conference play in 2011-12. The 17 wins tied a career best for Schmidt -- who went 17-11 with Robert Morris during the 2006-07 season prior to his arrival – and rank as the most for the Brown and White since the 2001-02 season (17-13). The 10-6 standing in A-10 play was enough to tie Xavier for third in the conference and the fourth seed – along with a first-round bye – in the A-10 Championship this weekend in Atlantic City, N.J. It also marked just the third season in program history with 10 conference wins, and the first since the 1999-2000 squad went 11-5 en route to the NCAA Tournament. Atlantic 10 Player of the Year Andrew Nicholson, a Schmidt recruit, leads the conference in points per game (17.9) and ranks second in rebounding (8.3 rebounds per game) and defensive rebounds (5.8 per game).   Sporting News named Temple's Ramone Moore as the A-10 Player of the Year and Xavier's Dez Wells as the conference's Rookie of the Year. The Bonnies begin the quest for the program's first-ever A-10 title Friday, as the Brown and White will face the winner of Tuesday's Charlotte-Saint Joseph's tilt in an A-10 quarterfinal at 2:30 p.m. in Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall.