CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Mid-American Conference announced today that Western Michigan head men's basketball coach Steve Hawkins has been named the 2013-14 MAC Coach of the Year after leading the Broncos to a 21-9 overall record and the sixth MAC regular season championship in program history, as well as the top seed in the 2014 MAC Tournament.  Hawkins becomes the third coach in program history to be named MAC Coach of the Year, joining Eldon Miller (1976) and Bob Donewald (1992).

"Whenever anything individual honor is given out, it's important to remember that it comes from a team effort that involves the entire coaching staff as well as great players," said Hawkins.  "This award is truly about their work and our team success this year.  I'm honored by the media that voted for this award, and I greatly appreciate it.  However, I always try to remember that just like the individual awards that were given to Shayne Whittington, David Brown, Connar Tava, and Tucker Haymond, it came as a result of a successful team effort."

Hawkins led the Broncos to 20+ wins for the sixth time in his 11-year tenure, as well as the 10th time in program history, despite returning just two starters from last season's squad that finished the year with a 22-13 record.  The Broncos' 14-4 record in conference play was good enough to give them the eighth MAC West title in program history, the seventh under Hawkins, as well as the second MAC regular season championship for "Hawk" since he took the reins of the program in the 2003-04 season.

Earlier this season, Hawkins notched his 200th win as head coach of the Broncos, making him one of just eight coaches in MAC history to surpass 200 wins.  Hawkins recorded his 100th career MAC win in the conference opener against Toledo on Jan. 8, which made him the ninth coach in conference history to win 100 MAC games.  His .617 winning percentage in MAC games ranks seventh in conference history.