Georgia Lady Bulldog head coach Joni Taylor was presented the 2016 Whack Hyder Georgia Women’s College Coach of the Year award at a ceremony held by the Atlanta Tipoff Club and the Naismith Trophy organization. The event took place at the College Football Hall of Fame in downtown Atlanta.
 
 
Taylor, whose team awaits to hear its seeding and destination in the 2016 NCAA Tournament, led the Lady Bulldogs to a 21-9 overall record and 9-7 SEC mark in her first season as Georgia’s head coach.
 
 
During Sunday’s event in Atlanta, Taylor praised her coaching staff, players, fans and administration for the Lady Bulldogs’ accomplishments during the 2015-16 season.
 
 
“I often get asked ‘why Georgia or what makes Georgia special?’ and there are so many things I could say,” Taylor said. “I could talk about the facilities, the resources, the players or the great administration — but my answer is always the same. It’s the people. Georgia is a people program first and it’s the people who make Georgia special. So thank you all for your leadership and for making this a very special place.”
 
 
Taylor’s 20-win season marked just the 12th time a first-year women’s basketball coach in the SEC has totaled 20 or more wins in his or her first year with a program. Among other notable accomplishments, the Lady Bulldogs won five games over ranked opponents, which were the most by a Georgia team in a single season since the 2006-07 campaign.
 
 
She has also been instrumental in the development of All-SEC performers Shacobia Barbee and Tiaria Griffin as well as SEC All-Freshman Team selection Caliya Robinson, who has become one of the top freshmen in the league during her first year at Georgia. Senior guard Marjorie Butler, who currently boasts a 3.81 GPA in biology, earned SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors earlier this season.
 
 
Georgia is looking to go back to the NCAA Tournament for the 32nd time in school history and will hear its fate during Monday night’s selection show, which will air on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET. A live stream is also available on WatchESPN.
 
 
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