SEASON PREVIEW

he more things change at West Liberty, the more they our 15 guys weren’t here last year. That’s a lot for us but we Tseem to remain the same. put a lot of effort into player development in our program For the fourth straight year, head coach Jim Crutchfield and all six of our returning players made strides over the is welcoming back a 30-win team that swept its way to summer. They’re better players now than they were at the conference and regional titles en route to an NCAA Division II end of last season and they’ll be the guys we count on.” Elite Eight bid. Leading a lengthy list of newcomers is a trio of collegiate Coming off last year’s run to the national championship transfers. Indiana Faithfull, a 6-4 senior guard, led NCAA game – an 84-77 loss to Central Missouri – the Hilltoppers lost Division I Wofford in assists two years ago while 6-3 junior some key performers but, as always seems to be the case, a guard Joe Lococo averaged 20.0 ppg. at NCAA Division II strong nucleus is being joined by a promising collection of Shippensburg (Pa.) last year to earn second-team All-PSAC newcomers on the hilltop. honors. Zac Grossenbacher, a 6-8 sophomore post, played in 17 games as a redshirt freshman at Wofford last winter. Heading into his 11th season, Crutchfield has the highest winning percentage (272-49, .847) in history for any coach “These guys all have the skill sets and competitive fire to be with 10 or more years at an NCAA school. With a 130-10 (.929) good fits for our system,” Crutchfield said. “Indy sees the floor mark over the past four seasons and eight national scoring well and is really good at creating shots for his teammates titles in the past nine years, this is obviously a man who while Joe is a proven scorer who gets to the foul line a lot. knows how to reload. Zac’s one of the biggest kids we’ve had but he’s a really good shooter and gives us more of a physical presence in the post.” That seems to be the consensus among most preseason prognosticators as several national publications have West The seeds for future reloading projects have already been Liberty at No. 1 in their preseason rankings. planted with a bumper crop of six freshmen joining the Black and Gold. “I’m sure most teams that lose four double-figure scorers including a first-team All-American and the nation’s No. 2 shot Headlining the group are 5-8 Brady Arnold, a 2,000-point blocker would think their cupboard’s pretty bare,” Crutchfield scorer and “Mr. ” finalist from Millersburg, Ohio, and said. “That’s not the case here. I think we have some pretty 6-4 Evan French, a two-time first-team All-Ohio Division II good guys back and with some new faces who should make standout from Vincent Warren but there’s plenty of talent top their presence felt. What we’re doing has worked pretty well to bottom as every Hilltopper recruit collected multiple All- for 10 years so I don’t see any reason to change the formula Conference, All-District, All-Region or All-Area honors. now.” Also donning the Black and Gold for the first time this year Preseason All-American C.J. Hester (14.2 ppg., 8.4 rpg.), a are 6-5 forwards Marco Colombo of New Philadelphia, Ohio 6-4 senior, leads the Black and Gold returnees. A two-time and Eric Meininger of Centerville, Ohio along with 6-2 guard Academic All-American, Hester earned All-Conference and Anthony Wallace of Linsly School in Wheeling and 6-4 guard All-Region honors last season. With 1,423 points and 910 Tyler Primmer of Teays Valley (Ohio) High School. rebounds already on the books, he could be the first WLU “As much as we like 30-win seasons, scoring titles and player with 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds by Christmas. regional or national championships, none of them have There’s plenty of firepower behind Hester as 6-7 junior Seger ever been goals,” Crutchfield said. “Our goal hasn’t changed Bonifant (10.3 ppg., 3.1 rpg.) leads all active NCAA Division II in 11 years. When we’re getting ready to go to the MEC players in career 3-point field goal percentage (142-256, .555) tournament, I want to feel we have a legitimate chance to win while 6-0 sophomore Devin Hoehn (11.8 ppg., 2.6 rpg.) led it. the Hilltoppers with 86 3-pointers a year ago. “I’ve always believed if you focus too much on distant goals, Also back after seeing significant playing time last winter you run the risk of tripping over one of the smaller steps SECTION III: are 6-5 junior Mike Lamberti (4.8 ppg., 3.3 rpg.) and 6-7 leading up to it. When you take care of the little things, the sophomore Zak Kirkbride (3.3 ppg., 1.9 rpg.) with 6-4 big things have a way of taking care of themselves.” sophomore Brandon Smith (1.5 ppg., 0.9 rpg.) expected to Former Bethany College head coach Aaron Huffman and THE COACHES see his minutes increase. ex-Hilltopper standout Ben Howlett return as Crutchfield’s “The main difference this year is that we have more new faces assistants. than any time since my first season,” Crutchfield said. “Nine of

// 14 THE COACHES

05 season. West Liberty was coming off a 4-23 campaign dribbled onto the hardwood back in 1923. in 2004 but Crutchfield pulled off the biggest turnaround Crutchfield was a men’s basketball assistant and highly- in the nation that winter, earning his first West Virginia successful men’s and women’s tennis coach at West Liberty Conference Coach of the Year honor with a 21-10 season for several years before taking the basketball reins. He was that was capped by a run to the championship game of an 8-time WVIAC Tennis Coach of the Year after leading his the WVIAC Tournament. men’s and women’s teams to a combined 11 league titles. The Hilltopper head man never looked back and has now The Clarksburg, W.Va. native also spent a decade as head reeled off 10 consecutive 20-win seasons with 30 wins or boys’ basketball coach at Cameron (W.Va.) High School, more coming in each of the last four campaigns. To put ending his tenure there as the winningest coach in school those streaks in perspective, consider that West Liberty’s history. He resides in Wheeling with his wife, Diana, and previous 15 head men’s basketball coaches had combined their daughters, Caroline and Allison. JIM CRUTCHFIELD for just two 20-win seasons since the first Hilltopper team

Head Coach SEASON W-L PCT POSTSEASON

2004-05 21-10 .677 WVIAC Final 2005-06 21-8 .724 2006-07 25-5 .833 NCAA Regional 2007-08 23-6 .793 WVIAC semifinal 2008-09 23-7 .767 WVIAC semifinal 2009-10 29-3 .906 WVIAC champion; WVIAC Final; NCAA Regional final 2010-11 33-1 .971 WVIAC champion; WVIAC Tourney champion; NCAA Regional champion; Elite 8 semifinal 2011-12 32-3 .914 WVIAC champion; WVIAC Tourney champion; NCAA Regional champion; Elite 8 quarterfinal 2012-13 34-2 .944 WVIAC champion; WVIAC Tourney champion; NCAA Regional champion; Elite 8 semifinal 2013-14 31-4 .886 MEC champion; NCAA Regional champion; Elite 8 championship game Totals 272-49 .843 Jim Crutchfield’s legend continues to grow as he heads 83, in a national semifinal. West Liberty led Central Missouri into his 11th season at the West Liberty men’s basketball for much of the national championship game only to come helm. After capping his first decade on the hilltop with last up short at the end, 84-77. winter’s run to the NCAA Division II national championship Crutchfield’s teams are known for their scoring exploits game, Crutchfield’s career mark of 272-49 (.847) now and last year’s team continued that tradition, leading stands as the highest winning percentage in college the nation in scoring for the eighth time in the last nine basketball history among coaches who have coached at seasons. The Black and Gold have averaged more than 100 least 10 seasons at NCAA schools. points per game throughout Crutchfield’s tenure. With a list populated by such coaching icons as the late The 2014 Hilltoppers checked in at No. 7 in the final NCAA (3rd all-time) and (6th), the Division II coaches’ poll, marking the fifth straight Top 10 West Liberty court boss has put himself at the head of a finish for the program. West Liberty was 10th in 2010, No. pretty illustrious class. 3 in 2012 and a unanimous No. 1 pick in the final 2011 and Last season’s magical run was just the latest in an 2013 polls. The Hilltoppers have been ranked in the Top 10 unbroken string of success for Crutchfield with the Black for 44 consecutive polls and have appeared in 66 straight and Gold. His Hilltoppers posted their fourth consecutive Top 25 listings. Both streaks are the longest active streaks 30-win season (31-4) while claiming their fifth straight in the nation. conference crown and earning a fourth consecutive NCAA A 2-time NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year Division II Elite 8 berth with an unprecedented fourth Selection (2011, 2013) by Basketball Times and a 3-time straight Atlantic Region title. West Liberty became the first Atlantic Region Coach of the Year, Crutchfield collected his Atlantic Region team to win a regional title on the road sixth Conference Coach of the Year Award last winter. He when it traveled to No. 2-ranked East Stroudsburg (Pa.) and was also honored as the West Virginia College Coach of the handed the Warriors an 89-82 loss on their home court. Year (all sports, all divisions) for the fourth straight year by That earned the Hilltoppers a trip to Evansville, Ind. the W.Va. Sports Writers Association. where they eliminated Drury (Mo.), 85-75, in the national Crutchfield has known nothing but success since taking quarterfinals before holding off South Carolina-Aiken, 86- over the Hilltopper program prior to the start of the 2004-

// 16 17// THE COACHES

BEN HOWLETT AARON HUFFMAN Assistant Coach Assistant Coach

Former West Liberty standout Ben Howlett returns for his coach Dan Petri before accepting the head coaching fourth year as assistant men’s basketball coach under Jim job at Bethany in 2002. He rejoined Ullom with the WLU Crutchfield. In the last three seasons, he has been a key women’s team for the 2008-09 season and helped the West part of a Hilltopper staff that has led the nation’s highest- Liberty women to three 20-win seasons and a pair of NCAA scoring team to three straight NCAA Division II Elite Eight Howlett was a second-team All-WVIAC pick in 2007-08 A highly-successful head coach in his own right, Aaron Division II tournament bids before switching back to the national tournaments – including last year’s national when he averaged 20.1 ppg. before making his mark on Huffman brings more than a decade of successful men’s side. championship game – while posting a combined record of the national stage as a senior. In his final varsity season, basketball coaching experience to the West Liberty men’s Huffman’s duties with the Hilltopper men focus on 97-9. Howlett emerged as the fourth-leading NCAA Division II basketball staff for the fourth straight season. individual skill development, game preparation, recruiting A native of Marietta, Ohio, Howlett was a standout guard scorer in the nation (23.0 ppg.) and also ranked among the In the last three years, Huffman has been a key part of a and academic counseling. on four consecutive 20-win teams under Crutchfield from top 20 nationally in field-goal percentage (.611). He was Hilltopper coaching staff that has taken WLU to the NCAA a first-team All-WVIAC and second-team NCAA Division An Assistant Professor of Physical Education and Health in 2005-09, averaging more than 20 points a game in each of Division II Elite Eight every season – including last year’s the WLU Department of Health and Human Performance, his final two seasons. Howlett’s experience and success in II All-Atlantic Region honoree. Howlett is No. 12 on West run to the national championship game – while sweeping Liberty’s career scoring list at 1,663 points and still ranks Huffman is a graduate of Waynesburg (Pa.) Central High the Crutchfield system combined with his singular drive three straight conference and regional titles. School. He graduated from West Virginia University in 1997 and determination have produced some impressive results No. 2 all-time in field goal percentage (.589). A 3-time PAC Coach of the Year as head men’s basketball with a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education with a during his three years on the WLU staff. Howlett made a swift transition from player to coach, coach at neighboring Bethany College from 2002-08, Mathematics minor and earned his master’s in Athletic During that time, Hilltopper guards have collected 14 picking up the clipboard as a student assistant at West Huffman posted a sparkling 112-53 (.679) record with Coaching Education from WVU in 2000. He earned his Conference Player of the Week Awards and garnered 5 Liberty during the 2009-10 season when he helped guide the Bison and led the NCAA Division III squad to three doctorate in Higher Education Administration from WVU first-team All-Conference selections, 2 Conference Player of the Hilltoppers to a Top 10 national ranking and their first PAC regular-season titles, three PAC tournament crowns, in 2013. His minor area was Higher Education Technology the Year Awards and a pair of Atlantic Region Player of the West Virginia Conference championship in 50 years. a trio of NCAA Division III tournament bids and an ECAC with an emphasis in Physical Education Teacher Education. Year Awards. Alex Falk and Cedric Harris were consensus Howlett left West Liberty to join former WLU assistant tournament invitation. Huffman also serves as the Department of Health and first-team NCAA Division II All-Americans with Falk being Human Performance’s website coordinator. Mike Snell’s staff at Ohio Valley University for the 2010-11 Highlights of Huffman’s tenure at Bethany included: a named the 2013 NCAA Division II National Player of the season. Working primarily with the guards as an assistant PAC-record 29-game conference win streak; two of the In addition to his coaching accomplishments, Huffman has Year. coach with the Fighting Scots, Howlett helped OVU rank top three winning seasons in school history; 24 wins in extensive administrative experience at the collegiate level. In addition to his outstanding success in player fourth in the 15-team WVIAC in assists over the course of 2004-05 and 23 wins in 2005-06; an 18-game win streak He served as NCAA Compliance Coordinator and Athletic development, Howlett has taken on additional duties the season before accepting Crutchfield’s offer to return to in 2005-06; an 11-1 record in overtime games; four PAC Facilities Building Supervisor while coaching at West during his stint on the Hilltopper coaching staff. These his alma mater as an assistant coach. Players of the Year; 18 All-PAC honorees; two NCAA Liberty from 2000-02. Huffman was NCAA Compliance areas include recruiting, opponent and self-scouting, A resident of West Liberty, Howlett also serves as director Division III Academic All-Americans and six NCAA Division Coordinator at Bethany from 2002-04 and assumed that strength and conditioning, film work and scheduling. of the Hilltopper Basketball Camp, a fast-growing III Academic All-District selections. role again during the 2007-08 academic year. The Hilltoppers have put up some impressive marks as a instructional clinic which draws a number of talented Huffman began his coaching career at West Liberty, In addition, he served as Bethany’s Summer Athletic team during Howlett’s time on the bench. West Liberty youngsters (Grades 5-12) to the WLU campus every serving as a women’s basketball assistant under WLU Hall Facilities Supervisor from 2003-08. Huffman is licensed led the nation in scoring by a wide margin each year, summer. of Famer Lynn Ullom from 1999-01. The Lady Hilltoppers as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist averaging a whopping 101.7 ppg. over that span and reeled off back-to-back WVIAC regular season and (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning hitting the century mark 58 times in 106 games. tournament titles during Huffman’s time with the program. Association (NSCA). He resides in West Liberty with his A blurry-fast 6-0 scoring guard during his playing days, He then spent the 2001-02 season as a men’s basketball wife, Courtney, and their three children, Jacob, Jillian and assistant and recruiting coordinator with Hilltopper head Joshua.

// 18 19// HEAD OF THE CLASS // WALL OF CHAMPIONS

HEAD OF THE CLASS After last year’s run to the NCAA NCAA Coaches By Winning Percentage (All Divisions) Division II national championship Source: 2014 NCAA Coaching Records Book game, West Liberty head coach Jim Crutchfield’s winning percentage now Coach Yrs W L Pct. ranks No. 1 in history 1. *JIM CRUTCHFIELD (WEST VIRGINIA 1978) WEST LIBERTY 2005-14 10 272 49 .847 among all coaches with a minimum of 2. (Waynesburg 1925) Rider 1929-31, LIU-Brooklyn 32-43, 46-51 21 412 88 .824 10 seasons at NCAA institutions. 3. Adolph Rupp (Kansas 1923) Kentucky 1932-52, 54-72 41 876 190 .822 That puts “Crutch” at the head of a 4. Walter “Bucky” Harris (Gettysburg 1950) Philadelphia U. 1954-65, 67 13 240 56 .811 pretty illustrious class. 5. Dolph Stanley (Illinois 1930) Beloit 1946-57 12 238 56 .810 Crutchfield, No. 7 of Gonzaga 6. John Wooden (Purdue 1932) Indiana State 1947-48, UCLA 49-75 29 664 162 .804 and No. 9 Roy Williams of North Carolina 7. *Mark Few (Oregon 1987) Gonzaga 2000-14 15 403 100 .801 are the only active coaches in a star- 8. John Kresse (St. John’s (NY) 1964) Coll. of Charleston 1980-2002 23 560 143 .797 studded Top 10 list which includes 9. *Roy Williams (N.Carolina 1972) Kansas 1989-2003, N.Carolina 2004-14 26 724 190 .792 such coaching legends as UCLA’s John 10. Dave Robbins (Catawba 1966) Virginia Union 1979-2008 30 713 194 .786 Wooden and Kentucky’s Adolph Rupp. *-denotes active coach

WEST LIBERTY’S WALL OF CHAMPIONS The first thing a visitor sees as he walks down the hall West Liberty has won at least one national statistical toward the office of West Liberty head basketball coach Jim championship every year since the 2005-06 season but the Crutchfield on the second floor of the ASRC is the long line of high water mark came in 2010-11 when the Hilltoppers went NCAA plaques hanging on the wall just outside the coach’s 33-1 with their only loss coming in the semifinals of the NCAA door. Division II Elite Eight national championship tournament. Each of the 30 plaques represents one of the annual statistical That 2011 team shattered a West Virginia Conference single- championships won by Crutchfield’s Hilltoppers during what season scoring record that had stood for more than a half- has become a historic 10-year run. century with a scoring average of 111.3 ppg. – one of the five Under Crutchfield, whose career winning percentage (272- highest totals ever posted by an NCAA Division II team. 49, .847) is the highest of any coach with 10 or more years Those Hilltoppers also became the first NCAA Division II at an NCAA school, the West Liberty “brand” has become squad to make 500 3-point field goals in a season while their synonymous with high-scoring crowd-pleasing basketball. final scoring margin of 29.7 ppg. ranks No. 2 all-time and is No NCAA Division II team has scored more points over the the highest in the past 50 years. past decade than the Hilltoppers, who have won eight of the In all, Crutchfield’s decade of excellence at West Liberty last nine national scoring titles and averaged more than 100 has produced 13 conference, conference tournament and points a game throughout Crutchfield’s tenure. regional tournament championships, 30 national statistical Those eight national scoring championship plaques have titles and a staggering 71 Top 10 finishes in the national stats. their place on the wall but it’s the 22 other plaques keeping Along with the eight scoring titles, the Hilltoppers have led them company that put the biggest smile on the veteran the nation in assists (5 times), assist/turnover ratio (4 times), head coach’s face. scoring margin (4 times), 3-point field goals (3 times) and SECTION IV: “We want to play a little different style of basketball,” winning percentage (3 times) along with steals, turnover Crutchfield said. “It’s not just about being up-tempo as margin and free throw percentage. much as it’s about playing with effort and intensity in “Our goal has never been to score 100 points every night,” THE PLAYERS a team concept. There are 330-some NCAA Division II Crutchfield said. “We just want to score more points than the basketball programs so when you get one of those statistical team we’re playing that night.” championship plaques at the end of the year, it means something.”

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