The Women's Basketball Coaches Association named Ball State University women's basketball coach Kelly Packard the Maggie Dixon Rookie Coach of the Year award for Division I coaches Monday.
Packard led the Cardinals to the program's best overall record and most wins in a season with a 26-9 record. She also had a 14-1 mark against opponents in Worthen Arena, another program record.
Packard and the Cardinals also set a 12-game winning streak, including a win against the two time defending national champion University of Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament.
"We would like to honor Kelly Packard with this year's Maggie Dixon award as she has elevated Ball State University to new levels in just her first year," WBCA CEO Beth Bass stated in a press release. "We had a terrific pool of first-year head coaches, but Kelly Packard stood out above the rest, and we wish her much success at Ball State in the future."
Packard will be honored at the Russell Athletic/WBCA National Coach of the Year Luncheon on April 6 as a part of the WBCA National Convention. This event is held in combination with the NCAA Women's Final Four in St. Louis.
The award is named after the late Maggie Dixon, who coached Army's women's basketball team to a Patriot League title in her first year as head coach in 2006. Dixon passed away later that year of a congenital heart ailment at the age of 28.
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