Men's Basketball

Mihalich to be Honored with Joe Lapchick Character Award

NEW YORK, NY – Former Niagara men's basketball head coach and 2021 Niagara Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Joe Mihalich has been named one of four recipients of the 2023 Joe Lapchick Character Award. 

Also receiving the award is the longtime voice of NCAA March Madness, Jim Nantz, former Iona head coach Tim Cluess, US Olympian, and Queens College Alumna Gail Marquis.

The Joe Lapchick Character Award Foundation is committed to encouraging and promoting good character in the sport of basketball. Each September, the foundation recognizes a group of iconic basketball figures, from all levels of men's and women's basketball, who have demonstrated honorable character throughout their careers, much like the legendary Coach Joe Lapchick.

Mihalich was at the helm of the Niagara men's basketball program from 1998-2013 and compiled 265 wins, the most in MAAC history. In his time on Monteagle Ridge, Mihalich led the Purple Eagles to two NCAA tournament appearances, three NIT appearances, two MAAC Championships, and four MAAC regular season titles. 

Coach Mihalich was named the MAAC Coach of the Year three times and the National Association of Basketball Coaches District 1 Coach of the Year twice and was the 2012-13 Skip Prosser Man of the Year.

In December of 2021, Mihalich was inducted into the Niagara Athletics Hall of Fame and last August, he received the 2022 Jim Satalin Award from the American Cancer Society's Coaches vs. Cancer program.

The Award Recipients are honored in September during the organizations annual event in New York City. For more information visit, CharacterAward.com  

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