Aurora University Athletics

Aurora University Spartan Men’s Basketball Head Coach James Lancaster has been named the 2008-2009 Illinois Basketball Coaches Association NCAA Division III Co-Coach of the Year. With the IBCA honor, Lancaster continues to add to his coaching legacy at AU. Following the Spartans 16-13 overall record and 10-6 record in the Northern Athletics Conference, Lancaster has now been named the IBCA Coach of the Year six times. The Spartans advanced to the NCAA Division III championship for the third consecutive season and fourth time in five years but fell to the University of St. Thomas 96-73 at St. Thomas. In his 15 seasons at the helm of the men’s program, Lancaster is 278-122 overall (.695). Under Lancaster, AU has had 15 consecutive winning seasons and 13 consecutive seasons with 15 wins or more. Lancaster has been the Conference Coach of the Year seven times in his 15 years as AU’s men’s basketball coach. He won the award after the 1994-1995, 1997-1998, 1998-1999, 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 seasons in the former Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference and the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 season in the Northern Athletics Conference. Lancaster will be honored at the 37th Annual Hall of Fame Induction Dinner to be held on Saturday, April 25, 2009, at Illinois State University. -END-