----John Basalyga

By Mike Anderson, NKU Sports Information

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Northern Kentucky University’s John Basalyga has been named the Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year by his peers in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Basalyga led the NKU men's soccer team to its most successful season in school history, tying a school record for wins and making its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament. Basalyga was also named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Coach of the Year for the 2006 season.

Basalyga led the Norse to a school-best 16-3-3 record, a half-game better than the team's 16-4-2 record in 1995 under John Toebben, and the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional championship. The Norse defeated Southern Illinois at Edwardsville, 3-2 in overtime to take the regional crown. NKU fell to Lincoln Memorial at home in the national quarterfinals by a 2-1 score to end the season.

Basalyga has compiled a 43-26-10 record since coming to NKU. Prior to taking the helm at NKU, Basalyga compiled a 325-93-58 record as boys’ soccer coach at Turpin High School in Cincinnati in 24 years.

He led Turpin to Ohio state championships in 1986, 2000 and 2001, and his teams produced 22 consecutive winning seasons.

This year’s NKU squad included six All-GLVC members, including GLVC Freshman of the Year Braden Bishop. Tony Capurro was named second-team All-GLVC as well as second-team All-American.

Andy Bacon and Dan Impellizzeri were each named second team All-GLVC as a part of one of the most dominant defenses in the nation. NKU allowed just 13 goals in 22 games, including 12 shutouts. Goalkeeper Andy Ortman was named to the Daktronics All-Great Lakes Region first team.