Last year, Pipe Dream introduced a new feature: End-of-the-Year Awards, given to the top achievers in several different categories, including rookie, player and team of the year. The awards sparked discussion and controversy, and so we’ve decided to bring them back. Today, we’re simply introducing the nominees for BU Coach of the Year. The winner, along with nominees for Rookie of the Year, will be announced in next Tuesday’s issue of Pipe Dream. Good luck to everyone involved!

Rich Conover, women’s basketball –– Three straight years without a postseason victory had to be tough for Conover to think about heading into the America East tournament, but he finally got off the proverbial schnide with a thrilling overtime victory against UMBC after a miraculous last-second comeback. Losing to Hartford in the semis by only 11 points parallels BU’s men’s basketball team losing to UVM in last year’s AE tournament (if there’s such a thing as a good loss, this was it), but his well-thought-out development of Laine Kurpniece as a dominant low-post presence means that the team’s goals heading into 2006-07 should be set much higher.

Glenn Kiriyama, volleyball –– Losing three starters to graduation and the team’s emotional leader (Katie Robertson) to a late-season injury left the Bearcats little to no chance of winning an America East championship this year, but someone forgot to tell Kiriyama. His never-say-die attitude, along with an ice-in-her-veins recruit named Katie Brody, pushed the Bearcats from an on-the-brink team (like men’s basketball) to a championship-winning (and NCAA-tournament-appearing) squad that’s poised to return even stronger next year. Kiriyama won America East Coach of the Year honors from his peers.

Paul Marco, men’s soccer –– Marco is one of the most well-respected coaches in the school, consistently putting a championship-caliber team on the field year after year. Losing in dramatic fashion in the America East finals for the second straight year was a painful ending to a season that saw the Bearcats garner national respect, earning NCAA rankings for several weeks in a tough conference. His careful development of sophomore Matt Narode, who led the team in goals, really helped fill a hole left by graduated Charles Darkwah. Also, AE Defender of the Year Graham Munro will play next year for the MISL’s Baltimore Blast.

Ed Stephenson, men’s lacrosse –– The 2004 America East champions had a rough ending to last season, but Stephenson is certainly proving his mettle this year with his more mature squad. A 7-6 double-overtime victory at No. 8 Towson on March 4 showed that, unlike many other teams that use their out-of-conference schedule to grow and “gel,” this team was out for blood from day one. Allowing Matt McNamara to lead the offense, and anchored by a nationally-heralded goalie (Kevin McKeown), Stephenson has built a team that can once again call itself a contender in a very difficult lacrosse conference.

Mike Stevens, women’s tennis –– Love him or hate him, you cannot argue with the results that Mike Stevens is producing in just his third year as the program’s head coach. Most coaches would be thrilled to have the America East Player of the Year (and last year’s Pipe Dream Athlete of the Year) at the top of their lineup, but instead of standing pat, Stevens recruited Juliana Umeki as a mid-season addition and turned his very good team into a great one. After a rough start in 2003, few BU squads have the chemistry of this women’s tennis team, which finally has the firepower to truly challenge Boston in the postseason.