The 2024 NJCAA Division I  World Exposure Report Women’s Basketball Head Coach of the Year Award finalists were announced today by World Exposure Report and include Franqua Bedell (Odessa), Angelica de Paulo (Eastern Arizona), John Ontjes (Hutchinson) and Penny Belford (Pensacola State). The winner will be announced on Friday, April 5th.

About the finalists:
Franqua Bedell, Odessa

Bedell led his team team to the  2024 NJCAA Elite Eight.  His team finished the 2023-24 season 30-5 and 13-1 in conference play after going 24-28 overall in the previous two years. 

Angelica de Paulo, Eastern Arizona

Angelica de Paulo has done a fantastic job of taking over the Eastern Arizona program.

In her first year as the Head Coach in the 2022-2023 season De Paulo led the Monsters to a record of 29-1 overall and 21-1 in the conference. Coach De Paulo was named Region 1 Coach of the Year.

2023-24 season, Head Coach de Paulo was named ACCAC Coach of the Year for her team leading the conference 27-3 and winning the title of ACCAC DI Conference Champions.  The Monsters reached the Final Four in the NJCAA National Tournament. 

John Ontjes, Hutchinson
John Ontjes has led  Hutchinson’s women’s basketball team to  NJCAA Division I Women’s National Tournament Championship game tonight against Northwest Florida State.  This is his 4th trip to the finals in 17 years. 

Penny Belford, Pensacola State
Belford led  Pensacola State to a  21-8 record in the hardest NJCAA Women's basketball conference.

NJCAA DIVISION I

HEAD COACH OF THE YEAR
PAST RECIPIENTS

NJCAA DIVISION I

ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR
PAST RECIPIENTS