May 2, 2002

SUNRIVER, Ore. - As if capturing the Mountain West Conference men's golf title wasn't enough, three members of the Rebel squad claimed league awards on Thursday.

Head coach Dwaine Knight was chosen as the MWC Coach of the Year for the first time in his career after capturing his sixth league title despite the loss of two top players in two years to the pro ranks. Now an honoree of three different conferences, Knight was chosen as the 1989 Big West Coach of the Year and earned the same award in the Western Athletic Conference in 1998.

Ryan Moore, who has led the Rebels in stroke average all season, became the second straight Rebel to earn the circuit's Freshman of the Year award, following in the footsteps of James Oh. The Puyallup, Wash., native edged out San Diego State's Mark Warman and BYU's Greg Matchaler for the honor.

Moore was also named to the All-Mountain West Conference team, where he was joined by teammate and Long Beach, Calif., product Clark Corbett on the 10-man squad.

San Diego State sophomore John Lieber carried away the league's other major award, earning Player of the Year honors after finishing second in the conference with a 72.3 stroke average.

Along with the conference crown, the Rebels also claimed the league's automatic postseason bid and will learn the rest of the NCAA Regional field on Monday, May 6.

2002 MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE MEN'S GOLF AWARDSPLAYER OF THE YEAR:  John Lieber, SDSUFRESHMAN OF THE YEAR:  Ryan Moore, UNLVCOACH OF THE YEAR:  Dwaine Knight, UNLV
ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE TEAMScott Hailes, Sr., New MexicoJohn Lieber, Jr., San Diego StateBen Leetsma, Sr., Air ForceRyan Moore, Fr., UNLVMark Warman, So, San Diego StateMike Urbatchka, Sr., WyomingManuel Merizalde, Sr., BYUMartin Laird, So., Colordao StateWil Collins, Sr., New MexicoClark Corbett, Sr., UNLV