Emory University head men's basketball coach Jason Zimmerman has been recognized by the Atlanta Tipoff Club for the Eagles' outstanding season as the recipient of the organization's Whack Hyder College Coach of the Year for the state of Georgia.
It is the third time during Zimmerman's 13-year tenure with Emory that he has garnered the honor. He captured his initial Whack Hyder Coach of the Year award following the 2012-13 season and second after the conclusion of the 2015-16 campaign. He ranks as Emory's all-time winningest coach with a record of 236-108.
Under Zimmerman's direction, Emory finished the season with an overall record of 22-5 (tying the program's third-highest seasonal mark for victories), his 11th straight winning season and third straight year of 20 or more triumphs. He oversaw the Eagles co-tying for the University Athletic Association championship, finishing league play with a ledger of 11-3. It represented the fourth time in the past six seasons that Emory had captured or shared the conference crown and the fifth time during his stint as head coach. Under Zimmerman's watch, Emory earned a conference-record eighth straight NCAA D-III Tournament appearance where it advanced to the second round. During the year, Emory attained its highest national ranking ever when it held down the No. 2 spot for four straight weeks in the D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll.
Zimmerman mentored four players to All-UAA honors including junior Matt Schner, who was named the league's Co-Player of the Year, and classmate Lawrence Rowley, the conference's Defensive Player of the Year.
Zimmerman was chosen by the Atlanta Tipoff Club board of selectors who determine winners based on on-court performances this season.
"It is an honor to be chosen by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to receive this award," Zimmerman said. "The Tipoff Club is a great ambassador for the game of basketball, and to be recognized by this organization is certainly a humbling experience.
"It is a blessing to get to work everyday with some of the most dedicated and committed student-athletes and staff in the country, and truly something that none of us should take for granted. There is nothing more rewarding than competing with a group of people you care about and a university you believe in. At Emory University with our student-athletes, that situation occurs daily. "
Nell Fortner of Georgia Tech was tabbed as the state's Women's College Coach of the Year. Anthony Edwards of the University of Georgia was selected as the Men's College Player of the Year while Kennesaw State's Alexis Poole was chosen as the Women's Player of the Year.
Awarded since 1984, past winners include Hugh Durham of Georgia, Bobby Cremins of Georgia Tech, Frank Kerns of Georgia Southern, "Lefty" Driesell of Georgia State, Mark Fox of Georgia, Ron Hunter of Georgia State and Josh Pastner of Georgia Tech. Over the award's 37 years of existence, only Cremins (6) and Driesell (4) have been recognized more than Zimmerman.
John "Whack" Hyder served as the head coach at Georgia Tech for 22 seasons (1951-52 through 1972-73), compiling 292 wins. His tenure was highlighted by Georgia Tech's first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1960 as well as two trips to the National Invitation Tournament.