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Dave Leitao has been named the ACC Coach of the Year. |
The Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association has named Virginia coach Dave Leitao the ACC Coach of the Year for 2006-07. The announcement came Tuesday afternoon. Leitao directed this year’s Cavaliers to a share of the regular season ACC Championship with a league record of 11-5 – the media had predicted an eighth place finish for the Hoos.
The conference finish marks the fifth time that UVa shared or won the regular season ACC Championship, but it was the first time since 1995. UVa’s 11 league wins are the most since the 1994-95 season. The Cavs won 12 ACC games during that campaign.
Leitao becomes the first Cavalier men’s basketball coach since Terry Holland to win the award. Holland won the honor in 1981 and 1982. Former coach Bill Gibson was recognized with the award in 1972.
“It’s obviously very humbling to receive this award,” Leitao said in a Tuesday news release. “I have to give thanks to God first because He makes me a whole lot stronger than I know I am. Thanks to our players for listening and receiving direction. Really, it’s been more about them than I could possibly ever do. Thanks also to my staff for the countless hours, the tireless work and for putting up with my ranting and my raving. I’m not always the easiest guy to get along with and I want to give thanks to them.”
“When you’re in a team sport, there really isn’t any such thing as an individual award,” he added. “This is something that’s shared in recognition of what everyone around our program has done.”
Leitao had said similar things Monday while meeting with reporters.
“Obviously, there’s some flattering parts to it, but knowing myself and anybody that knows me, it’s really about Virginia and the guys in here. In a team sport, even when you talk about Sean being first team all league or what have you, it’s a little bit unfair because there’s so many other parts to it that go unnoticed,” Leitao said. “The guys that don’t play as much have as much to do with our success as I do. So, yeah you’re proud and you get to put a plaque on the wall or whatever, but more importantly it’s a recognition that you’re doing good things and that’s all we want to do.”
While Leitao is humble about the honor, his players seem fiercely loyal to the Cavaliers’ second year coach. Sean Singletary credited Leitao during a Monday press conference for making him a better player over the past two seasons – Singletary earned first team All-ACC honors both years.
“He’s helped me become a way more mature player and he helped me understand situations. But it’s not all about basketball with him,” Singletary said. “He’s helped teach me how to live and just, you know, how to be a good young man. You know what, he’s meant a lot to us and he’s meant a lot to me personally. I really appreciate him for it.”
“In terms of the maturity, it really helps. It’s really easy, well not easy, but manageable to deal with certain situations having a coach like that,” he added. “Like I said, I really appreciate him for coming in and helping me.”
