WALTHAM, Mass. – Bentley University's Barbara Stevens was named one of eight 2013 Russell Athletic/WBCA NCAA Division II Regional Coaches of the Year by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Monday night after directing the Falcons to a 30-2 season.

All are finalists for the 2013 Russell Athletic/WBCA NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year award, with the recipient to be announced during the third annual WBCA Awards Show on Monday, April 8 in New Orleans. This event is part of the WBCA National Convention and is held in conjunction with the NCAA Women's Final Four.

"The WBCA congratulates these coaches on being named finalists for the 2013 RUSSELL ATHLETICS/WBCA Division II National Coach of the Year Award," said WNBA CEO Beth Bass.  "These coaches led their teams to outstanding seasons and have been selected by their peers as finalists for their accomplishments.  On behalf of the WBCA and its members, I wish all eight of these finalists the best of luck at the WBCA Awards Show in New Orleans."  

"We would like to congratulate these coaches for being named finalists for the RUSSELL ATHLETICS/WBCA Division II Coach of the Year Award," said Senior Vice President of Russell Athletic, Gary Barfield. "Each of these coaches embodies the team concept we model our business after, and we are pleased to honor them for a fantastic season."

Bentley spent the season ranked in the top three in Division II, including a week at number one in February after the Falcons opened the season with 24 consecutive wins. Stevens' team captured both the regular season and playoff titles in the Northeast-10 Conference for the third straight year, and reached the NCAA Division II East Regional game for the third straight year before having its two-year reign as regional champs ended with a two-point loss to Dowling College.

Stevens, the winningest coach in Division II history and number six all-time, owns a career record of 882-246, including 725-155 in 27 Bentley seasons. Her remarkable tenure with the Falcons includes 12 regional  championships with eight appearances in the national semifinals, 17 NE-10 regular season titles, 14 NE-10 playoff championships, 26 NCAA tournament berths, 25 20-win seasons, 18 25-win seasons and at least 30 wins 11 times.

This is the ninth WBCA Region Coach of the Year award for Stevens, a 2006 inductee into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame who has been the WBCA Division II National Coach of the Year three times (1992, 1999, 2001).