WALTHAM, Mass. – Bentley University women's basketball coach Barbara Stevens has been named the Russell Athletic/WBCA Division II National Coach of the Year by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association for an unprecedented fourth time. She received the prestigious award Monday evening in New Orleans as part of the WBCA Awards Show.

Stevens was recognized following a season that saw her Falcons post a 30-2 record and reach the NCAA Division II East Regional final before falling to eventual national finalist Dowling College. Bentley achieved a three-peat as Northeast-10 Conference regular season and playoff champions, and was ranked seventh in the final USA Today Sports/WBCA Division II national coaches poll, the third straight year they've finished in the top ten.

"I am completely overwhelmed by this honor," said Stevens. "Although my name is attached to it, I share this award with my assistant coaches, C White and Dan Hunt, who are dedicated professionals, amazing teachers of the game and wonderful role models. Most importantly, all the credit must go to the members of our basketball team who are not only talented players but outstanding representatives of Bentley University and our women's basketball program.  I am so very proud and humbled to be their coach.

"I also want thank Bentley University President Gloria Larson, Dean of Student Affairs Andrew Shepardson and Director of Athletics Bob Defelice for their continued support of our goals to be a nationally competitive women's basketball program," continued the 2006 inductee into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.

Stevens, the winningest coach in Division II women's basketball history and sixth on the all-time career win list, completed her 27th Bentley season with records of 882-246 overall and 725-155 with the Falcons. During her tenure, she has led her team to 26 NCAA tournament berths, with 12 regional titles and eight Final Fours, and 31 conference championships (17 regular season, 14 tournament).  There have been 25 20-win seasons, 18 with at least 25 victories and 11 30-win seasons.

Stevens, whose resume includes 13 NE-10 Coach of the Year awards and nine WBCA Region Coach of the Year selections, was previously the Division II National Coach of the Year in 1992, 1999 and 2001. In the 31-year history of the award, only two other coaches have won it multiple times, Central Missouri's Jorja Hoehn (1983, 1985, 1995) and Cal Poly Pomona's Darlene May (1988, 1990).