THE CLARENCE "BIG HOUSE" GAINES AWARD

Lubbock Christian's Todd Duncan is the recipient of the 2021 Clarence Gaines award, which is presented annually to the top Division II coach in America.

March 31, 2021

THE 2021 AWARD

BOSTON, MA -- Lubbock Christian head coach Todd Duncan is the recipient of the 2021 Clarence Gaines award.

Duncan led Lubbock Christian to one of the best seasons in program history. The Chaparrals began the season winning a school-record 16 straight games.  LCU climbed to a No. 2 national ranking, which is the highest in program history.

“To produce one of the best seasons in school history, during this difficult time, is really impressive,” said Joe Dwyer President of CollegeInsider.com.” Coach Duncan has been doing an outstanding job for a long time so his 2020-21 season shouldn’t be a real surprise.”

The Chaps won the Lone Star Conference title, secured the No. 2 seed in the South Central Regional and finished the season 18-3.

The Clarence Gaines Award, which is presented annually to the top Division II basketball coach, is named in honor of the former Winston Salem State head coach.

One of the true legends of all-time, Gaines retired from Winston-Salem State University in 1993 with a record of 828-446. At the time he was the winningest active basketball coach in NCAA history. Gaines was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982.

During his 47-year tenure as coach and athletic director at WSSU he coached professional basketball greats Cleo Hill, the first African-American from an historically Black college and university to be drafted No. 1 by the National Basketball Association, St. Louis Hawks, 1961, and Earl "The Pearl" Monroe.