Central Basketball Association

For the fourth time in league history, a first-year head coach has earned Coach of the Year honors, as Indianapolis head coach, Phillip Washington, wins the award for the 2017 Central Basketball Association season. 

In his rookie year at the helm for Indianapolis, Washington knew he had to build off the success of his predecessor from the team's inaugural season last year. In 2016, Indianapolis finished the regular season as the fifth seed with a 4-4 record, and advanced to the semifinals via an upset of the 2015 defending champions, Bowling Green, in the opening round of the playoffs. 

In order for Washington to be instrumental in the growth of the Indianapolis organization, he had to push his team further than they had ever gone before. After a hard-fought 2017 CBA season, which came down to the final regular season game, Washington helped Indianapolis clinched the top overall seed in the postseason tournament, guiding the team to their first-ever regular season title, via their 6-2 record, including a 4-0 record at home. Furthermore, he helped lead Indianapolis to their first-ever championship game, coming a few points shy of the team's first-ever league title. 

Washington's philosophy helped improve Indianapolis in many offensive and defensive statistical categories during the regular season, including:

• 2nd in the CBA in points per game (99.9)
• 2nd in the CBA in field goal shooting percentage (42.1%)
• 1st in the CBA in free throw shooting percentage (72.8%)
• 2nd in the CBA in offensive rebounds per game (15.8)
• 2nd in the CBA in points per game allowed (93.8)
• 2nd in the CBA in defensive rebounds per game (30.4)
• 2nd in the CBA in steals per game (11.2)
• 1st in the CBA in blocked shots per game (6.5)
• 1st in the CBA in forced turnovers per game (22.0) 

Washington joins a talented class of winners of this award, including 2016 CBA Champion and Fort Wayne head coach, Rod Wilmont, who won the honors last year, along with Paul Gaffney (Chattanooga) in 2015, Rodney English (Chattanooga) in 2014, and Floyd Irons (St. Louis) in 2013.

Washington will look to repeat his regular season success in 2018, while also seeking to bring Indianapolis its first CBA title in team history next year.