The official student newspaper of Vanderbilt University

The Vanderbilt Hustler

The official student newspaper of Vanderbilt University.
Since 1888
The official student newspaper of Vanderbilt University

The Vanderbilt Hustler

The official student newspaper of Vanderbilt University.
The official student newspaper of Vanderbilt University

The Vanderbilt Hustler

The official student newspaper of Vanderbilt University.

BREAKING: Jerry Stackhouse named SEC Co-Coach of Year, Liam Robbins Defensive Player of Year

Jerry Stackhouse was named SEC Co-Coach of the Year on Monday with Liam Robbins earning SEC Defensive Player of the Year and First Team honors.
Liam+Robbins+and+head+coach+Jerry+Stackhouse+fist+bump+as+Robbins+checks+out+of+the+game+against+Pitt+on+Dec.+7%2C+2022.+%28Hustler+Multimedia+%2F+Miguel+Beristain%29
Miguel Beristain
Liam Robbins and head coach Jerry Stackhouse fist bump as Robbins checks out of the game against Pitt on Dec. 7, 2022. (Hustler Multimedia / Miguel Beristain)

Vanderbilt fourth-year head coach Jerry Stackhouse was named SEC Co-Coach of the Year by the league’s coaches, as announced on Monday afternoon. Center Liam Robbins was also named Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-SEC per the coaches.

Stackhouse tied Texas A&M head coach Buzz Williams in the voting, earning him the distinction of Co-Coach of the Year. The fourth-year head coach guided Vanderbilt to an 18-13 (11-7) record in the regular season this year as his team vies for a spot in the NCAA Tournament at the SEC Tournament this week. The Commodores were projected to finish No. 12 in the SEC Preseason Coach’s Poll but finished tied for No. 4.

Vanderbilt hasn’t reached the NCAA Tournament since 2017, though Stackhouse led the program to the brink of the NIT Final Four last season.

The North Carolina (’99) alum has amassed a record of 57-67 in four seasons on West End, with each of his teams finishing with a better record than the year before. Stackhouse, an All-American player during his time at UNC, signed a contract extension with Vanderbilt in October after hauling in a top-25 recruiting class (247Sports).

“The positive trajectory of our men’s basketball program under Coach Stackhouse is clear,” Vice Chancellor for Athletics and University Affairs and Athletic Director Candice Story Lee said at the time of the extension. “Committing to and investing in him as the leader is an important part of building the championship-caliber program that we all want and expect here at Vanderbilt. I value the contributions Jerry and his program have made to our community and campus, and I am excited about our future.”

Liam Robbins was also honored with the coaches’ awards, nabbing the SEC Defensive Player of the Year award and earning a First Team All-SEC selection. The senior big man averaged 15 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game in 26 games this season. Robbins tallied 32 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks in a career-best performance against Florida on Feb. 11.

Per Vanderbilt Athletics, Stackhouse is the first Vanderbilt men’s basketball coach to win SEC Coach of the Year since 2010 while Robbins is the first Commodore to ever win SEC Defensive Player of the Year.

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About the Contributors
Bryce Smith, Former Sports Editor
Bryce Smith ('23) is majoring in human and organizational development in Peabody College with a minor in business. Bryce previously wrote for SBNation before joining The Hustler. Hailing from Chicago, Bryce is a die-hard Bears and Cubs fan who is also hoping that the Bulls and Blackhawks may one day rekindle their dominance. He can be reached at [email protected].    
Miguel Beristain, Senior Staff Photographer
Miguel Beristain (’24) is a philosophy and cellular and molecular biology double major in the College of Arts and Science from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. When not shooting for The Hustler, he can usually be found playing Magic the Gathering, exploring new restaurants or practicing guitar. He can be reached at .
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