Legans is Coach of the Year in the Big Sky

CHENEY — The Big Sky Conference announced Tuesday, March 10, that third-year Eastern Washington University men’s basketball coach Shantay Legans had been named the conference’s Coach of the Year as a result of balloting by the league’s 11 head coaches.   

“I’m so humbled to receive the Big Sky Coach of the Year Award, especially among the group of outstanding coaches in this conference,” Legans said in a news release. “But make no mistake, this is a team award. Coaches are only as good as their players and staff, and I have an amazing group of guys who not only make my job easy, but a blast.”

Legans becomes the fourth Eastern coach to earn the honor, and follows in their footsteps as Big Sky Conference champions.

Steve Aggers was coach of the year in both 1998 and 2000, the latter honor coming after EWU won the regular season title. Ray Giacoletti (2004) and Jim Hayford (2015) were honored after their teams each followed regular season championships with titles in the Big Sky Conference Tournament to advance to the NCAA Tournament.

Legans is now 59-41 in his three years as head coach for a .590 winning percentage.