The State University of New York Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Coaches selected Buffalo State's Fred Batchelor as the 2001-02 Coach of the Year.



In just his second season at the helm of the Bengals, Batchelor led Buffalo State to a SUNYAC Championship and an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Playoffs. This past Saturday, he coached his Bengals to a 56-50 win over Cortland in the conference finals, becoming the first African-American coach to win a SUNYAC basketball title, men's or women's. At 25-3, Buffalo State has matched a school best for wins in a season.



After finishing fifth in conference play last season, the Bengals were picked fourth in this year's SUNYAC preseason poll. The Bengals improved to first place this year with a 15-1 conference mark. In two seasons, Batchelor has an overall record of 40-13. Buffalo State will host Ohio Wesleyan in the first round of the NCAA Playoffs on Wednesday at 7 p.m.



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