The Illinois State women’s basketball team finished second in the Missouri Valley Conference, after being selected to finish sixth in the preseason poll. After the Redbirds’ unexpected performance, the Missouri Valley Conference named Head Coach Stephanie Glance Coach of the Year for the 2011–2012 season.
Glance led ISU to a second-place finish in conference play and led the Redbirds to their sixth-straight season finishing in the top-two of the Missouri Valley Conference regular season standings. Under her leadership, the Redbirds have four players who finished the regular season averaging double-digit scoring efforts.
“It is very humbling to receive the Coach of the Year award,” Glance said. “The coaches in the Missouri Valley Conference are such quality coaches and people. I am grateful to be recognized among them, but ultimately this honor goes to my staff and team. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful staff and such a special group of players to coach. Thank you most of all to them for their commitment to excellence and their willingness to give their very best.”
Illinois State held an 8-1 record in home conference games, with its first home loss of the conference season coming from No. 1 seeded Missouri State in an overtime loss in the final home game of the conference schedule. Through two seasons at the helm of the Redbirds, Glance has led ISU to a record of 42-22.
Glance is the third Redbird coach to earn the prestigious Coach of the Year honor. The last time an ISU coach received the award was eight years ago, when Robin Pingeton won the honor for the 2003–2004 season.
