The NJCAA announced on Friday that Kirkwood's Bryan Petersen has been named the 2019 Spalding Coach of the Year for Division II Men's Basketball.
This season, Petersen led Kirkwood to a 31-4 record and a 12-2 conference record along with an NJCAA National Championship, defeating Johnston County (Kan.) in the title game 64-58. It is Kirkwood's second National Championship under Petersen's reign as head coach with their previous title coming in 2016 after defeating Triton (Ill.) College 83-76.
In 2018-19, Kirkwood won the Region XI Championship as well as split the regular season crown with NIACC.
Completing his sixth season as the head coach, Petersen has a record of 157-38 (.792).
Under Petersen, the Eagles have had 25 All-Region players, including nine First Team All-Region players. Petersen has also coached four Region XI Players of the Year and First Team All-Americans, Jordan Ashton ('15) and Hunter Rhodes ('16), Miles Wentzien ('17), and Doug Wilson ('18). Wilson was tabbed as the 2018-19 NJCAA Division II Men's Basketball Player of the Year.