McMurray credits team for award

By Lethbridge Herald on March 5, 2024.

LETHBRIDGE COLLEGE PHOTO Seven Lethbridge College Kodiaks were honoured with ACAC awards last week.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Seven Lethbridge College Kodiaks, including women’s basketball  head coach Ken McMurray, were among award winners for the recent Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference’s awards last week.

McMurray won the South Division Coach of the Year for the second time in his first three years of leading the program after helping the team to a 18-3 record and a first place finish in the South Division.

“It’s a nice recognition,” said McMurray.

“But I’d trade it any day of the week for us to go on a little farther in the playoffs. So that’s the bittersweet part about it. But I mean I guess it … attests to how the girls rebounded in the second half and they overcame some significant obstacles and made a really good push in the second semester and finished with a 18-3 record. So all the credit really should go to the girls.”

McMurray said it was great, when asked about his season as the coach went.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better group of girls,” said McMurray.

“They (were) resilient, and they overcame some major team obstacles ,and I’m really proud of them for that, and they all raised their games and probably one of the closest-knit teams I’ve ever coached.”

McMurray’s identity has been working through the recruiting process and finding players who will play together, play hard and being good students.

“Win and losses are certainly important at this stage but after everything’s said and done, when basketball is over, what are you left with,” said McMurray.

“I think these girls are going to be really good community members wherever they go and they’ll be successful wherever they go. So I’m mostly proud about that.”

After getting knocked out of the ACAC Championship in the quarterfinals by Briercrest, McMurray now has a task ahead of him of replacing six to seven players on his roster for next season.

“We got a task of  trying to replace some really quality not just players but people and culture is really important to me,” he said.

“That’s one thing I’m really looking for is kids who want to represent the school well, and are willing to work hard, and sacrifice for their teammates, and be good team players and so yeah I got my work cut out for me.”

The basketball awards didn’t stop there for the Kodiak women’s team as Hannah Helton was named to the ACAC All-Conference South first team, while Courtney Deemter was named to the All- Conference South’s second team.

There were a couple of Kodiak’s men’s basketball player that took home awards.

Filip Karanovic was picked to the All-Conference South first team while teammate Mason Hoffman was named to the All-Conference South’s second team.

As for the volleyball teams, Kohlbe Anderson of the Kodiak men’s team won South Division Rookie of the Year.

“Kodiaks men’s volleyball is thrilled Kohlbe has been recognized,” says head coach Greg Gibos. “Being a first-year middle in the ACAC is incredibly difficult, and he finished 17th in the league in total blocks. He’s been an incredible addition to our program.” 

Nolan Moes was chosen for an All-Conference award for outside hitter.