MEDFORD - Tufts University's Jamie Insel has earned the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) 2020 Assistant Coach of the Year Award for Division III, the organization announced today.
The WBCA Assistant Coach of the Year award is presented to one associate head coach or assistant coach in each of the membership's six divisions who demonstrates commitment to their program, their student-athletes and their head coach. The honor is a reflection of their impact coaching on court, their mentorship and impact on other coaches and their professional manner and attitude.
Insel has been side-by-side with Tufts' first-year head coach Jill Pace during an outstanding 2019-20 season that has the Jumbos hosting an NCAA Sectional this weekend. Tufts won its first 26 games - a program winning streak record - and is currently 28-1 overall. They finished 10-0 in the NESCAC, including road victories against top 10 teams Amherst and Bowdoin. The NESCAC runner-up, the Jumbos won NCAA Regional games against SUNY Poly and SUNY Cortland last weekend. Tufts is currently #2 in the D3hoops.com national poll.
Insel was an excellent player at Division II Assumption College from 2010-14, and that has translated to her coaching. Her work with the Tufts post players this season has led to the improvement of each, including sophomore Sofia Rosa who has a 61.2 field goal percentage while averaging 8.7 points in 18 minutes per game off the bench. Insel's keen basketball insight also helps Coach Pace develop game plans and make necessary in-game adjustments.
"Our team is very proud of Jamie for this well-deserved honor," Coach Pace said. "Jamie is a tireless worker who has taken full ownership of our post player development this year. More importantly, Jamie is a great person who cares about each of our players on an individual level. She has been an integral part of our success this season and I feel fortunate to be coaching with her."
Prior to Tufts, Insel was working in NESCAC at Colby College for two years. She spent three years as an assistant coach at MIT, where she was the program's recruiting coordinator. She helped the Engineers go 20-6 for the 2016-17 season. From Clifton, N.J., Insell previously assisted in coordinating the United Basketball (N.J.) AAU program.
The 2020 WBCA Assistant Coaches of the Year are:
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DIVISION
NCAA Division I
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COACH
Karen Blair
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INSTITUTION
University of Maryland
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NCAA Division II
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Stephanie Gehlhausen
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Ashland University
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NCAA Division III
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Jamie Insel
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Tufts University
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NAIA
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Vicky Volonaki
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Marian College
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Two-Year College
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Rachel Jones
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Hill College (TX)
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High School
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Paul Gardner
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Bishop Lynch High School (TX)
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