Newcastle Eagles’ coach Fabulous Flournoy has been named Molten BBL Coach of the Year for 2011/12 following a fine season for his team.
The Eagles captured the first three pieces of silverware this season and remain on course for a clean sweep as they prepare to face Cheshire Jets in the two-leg semi-final of the play-offs this weekend.
It is the fourth time that the Eagles’ player-coach has won the award in his ten years in the hot-seat at Newcastle, taking the accolade in 2005, 2006 and 2010.
The 38-year-old is the most successful player-coach in BBL history, and is second in the all-time coaching honours table behind Kevin Cadle and second in playing honours behind team-mate Andrew Bridge.
Flournoy spent his first four seasons in the BBL with Birmingham Bullets before a single year at Sheffield Sharks. He joined the Eagles in 2001 and stepped into the coaching role for the first time in 2002. Since then he has led the Eagles to 18 trophy wins.
Typically, Flournoy refused to take all the credit for a fine season which Eagles win the BBL Cup in January with a victory against UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders and repeat the trick in the BBL Trophy against the same opposition and win the regular season title with four games to spare.
“It’s comes as a bit of a shock” he admitted. “It’s a huge honour to get the award, but not just for me, for the guys who help me and don’t get any recognition. Dave Forester [assistant coach] does a lot of things for me and gives up his time doing preparation that makes it possible for us to win things. Les and Stu who do the video work for us make it possible for me to do the analysis, and all the volunteers at the club make sacrifices to make me look good.
“Getting the coach of the year award is a real honour, but it’s an award I share with the other people that don’t get the credit they deserve.”
Flournoy and the Eagles host Cheshire Jets in the play-off semi-final at Sport Central on Friday, 7.30pm, before the sides meet at Northgate Arena in the second leg on Sunday, 5.30pm.
The winner will face either Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders or Glasgow Rocks in the BBL Playoff Final on May 12 at the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham.
