Syracuse women’s basketball head coach Quentin Hillsman has been named the Basketball Coaches Association of New York Women’s Basketball Division I Coach of the Year. Hillsman is the third SU coach in 23-years to be named BCANY Coach of the Year. Marianna Freeman and Barb Jacobs were named BCANY Coach of the Year in 2002 and 1986, respectively. Syracuse men’s basketball head coach Jim Boeheim has been named the BCANY Coach of the Year four times in 2003, 1996, 1987 and 1984.



The 2007-08 BIG EAST Conference Coach of the Year, Hillsman coordinated the second biggest turnaround in the country by winning 13 more games than the Orange did all of last season. He was the mastermind behind the Orange's school-record 12-game winning streak from Nov. 25 through Jan. 5, including wins against Penn State and Louisville, which were both receiving votes in the national polls.



The Orange women’s basketball team made its fourth appearance in the NCAA Tournament, earning an at-large bid to the 2008 big dance. Syracuse finished the season with a school-record 22 wins and achieved the program’s first appearance in the top 25, peaking at No. 21.



In addition, junior guard Chandrea Jones earned second-team All-BIG EAST honors and sophomore forward Nicole Michael received honorable mention for the second consecutive season. Syracuse also landed rookie guards Tasha Harris and Erica Morrow on team BIG EAST All-Freshman team. The teammates followed up Michael’s naming to the 2006-07 squad.