January 18, 1999

LAS VEGAS - UNLV Golf Head Coach Dwaine Knight has been named the 1997-98 District VIII Coach of the Year, which was awarded by the Golf Coaches Association of America.

Knight, Golfweek Magazine's 1997-98 Division I National Coach of the Year, led the Rebels to their first team national title last season and guided the team from its preseason ranking of 12th in the nation to No. 1.

The team set an NCAA record for lowest score under par at the NCAA Championships, shooting 34-under and eclipsing the old mark by 11 strokes. The team also set a record for lowest score under par after two rounds, shooting 23-under and breaking the previous total by 12 strokes.

UNLV produced four All-Americans, set a school record with seven tournament victories, recorded its lowest round and lowest tournament totals in school history and made its 10th-straight trip to the NCAA Regionals and Championships.

It marks the third time that Knight has received District Coach of the Year honors as he received the award in 1991 with UNLV and in 1981 with New Mexico.

The GCAA's National Coach of the Year award will be announced on Jan. 28 in Orlando, Fla.

1997-98 DISTRICT COACHES OF THE YEARDist. I             Tom Drennan, Rhode IslandDist. II            Paul Gooden, James MadisonDist. III-North     Larry Penley, ClemsonDist. III-South     Tim Baldwin, Southeast LouisianaDist. IV            John Means, MinnesotaDist. V             Larry Romjue, NebraskaDist. VI            Mike Dirks, HoustonDist. VII           Mark Crabtree, Colorado StateDist. VIII           Dwaine Knight, UNLV