OTTAWA, KS - Collegiate coaches who achieved success during the 2009 season have been recognized with the announcement of the NSCAA/Mondo Regional Coaches of the Year. The recipients are selected based on a vote of their peers within their region. Ottawa University's head women's soccer coach, Craig Shaw, has earned the school's first selection by being named Southwest Region Coach of the Year.

Under Coach Shaw's leadership in 2009, the Lady Braves went 16-5-0 overall and captured their first KCAC regular season championship since 2005 with a record of 9-0-0. The Lady Braves earned their first KCAC Tournament Championship since the 2004 season with a victory over Kansas Wesleyan University in the finals.

He led OU to its first NAIA National Tournament appearance with Ottawa hosting the first round for the first time in school history. Coach Shaw coached eight All-KCAC performers including his third straight KCAC Freshman of the Year. Because of his efforts, Coach Shaw earned KCAC Coach of the Year.

The Lady Braves finished the 2009 season ranked second in the NAIA in shots per game (24.8), sixth in total shutouts (12), ninth in shutouts per game (0.5), ninth in total assists (54), 12th in assists per game (2.5), 21st in total goals (62), 29th in goals per game (2.9) and 34th in shots on goal per game (10.3).

Two players earned NAIA All-American honors with Amanda Just and Lizzie Wilkens being selected to the honorable mention team. Wilkens and Just were both named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Southwest Region Team.

Regional Coaches of the Year are finalists for the NSCAA/Mondo National Coach of the Year award at their respective levels. In NCAA play, any coach who is not selected a Regional Coach of the Year but advances to the national tournament semifinals is added to the ballot for National Coach of the Year.

The national awards will be announced at the annual NSCAA Awards Banquet, which will be held Friday evening, Jan. 15, in the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Downtown in Philadelphia, Pa., as part of the 2010 NSCAA Convention.