Pearl River’s Chris Oney named NJCAA Coach of the Year

Pearl River’s Chris Oney named NJCAA Coach of the Year
Posted: Apr 10, 2020

POPLARVILLE, Miss. — The season has long been over but firsts keep rolling in for Pearl River's record-setting men's basketball team.

Just days after the Wildcats landed two All-Americans for the first time in program history, the man who called all the shots in 2019-20 took his turn in the spotlight.

On Friday the NJCAA announced PRCC men's coach Chris Oney has been named the Division I Coach of the Year.

The honor is a first in program history. Additionally, Oney is only the second MACJC and Region XXIII coach to be honored by the NJCAA — and the first since the 2013-14 season.

"I'm incredibly humbled to receive this recognition from the NJCAA. It's an honor to have my name etched alongside the names of so many other great coaches who have received this award before me," Oney said. "Although recognized as an individual award, I understand this took the effort of so many people, from my players and assistants to a complete buy-in and belief in me from Pearl River. 

"I would be remiss if I didn't also thank PRCC's administration and my family for their unwavering support."

The honor comes on the heels of a remarkable — yet bittersweet — 2019-20 season.

The Wildcats entered the year with high hopes after claiming the program's first Region XXIII Championship and making PRCC's NJCAA Tournament debut a season before.

With expectations at an all-time high, the Wildcats rose to the occasion.

A year ago the Wildcats were the nation's final undefeated team before eventually falling late in the MACJC schedule. This year, Oney's Wildcats kept their unblemished mark as the NJCAA's lone undefeated team.

To keep their perfect schedule intact, the Wildcats (28-0 overall) sliced through their non-conference schedule and then maneuvered through a normally treacherous MACJC slate.

Pearl River didn't slow down during its postseason run, dispatching Itawamba, Jones College and Northeast to claim the MACJC title and then turning away Southern University-Shreveport, Hinds and JC to earn the automatic bid into the NJCAA Tournament with a second consecutive Region XXIII Championship.

PRCC's final victory — No. 4 over rival Jones College on the season — guaranteed the Wildcats would be the first MACJC and Region XXIII team to enter the NJCAA Tournament undefeated. The Wildcats' 28 wins also marked a program-best.

Shortly thereafter, the Wildcats made more history when they were awarded the No. 1 overall seed in the NJCAA Tournament. The feat was also a first for any Mississippi program.

Offense often gets most of the notoriety — and the Wildcats had some unbelievable plays while utilizing an exciting brand of high-octane basketball — it was PRCC's defense that never failed the champs. PRCC spent most of the season as the nation's top defense and finished the year boasting the NJCAA's second-best scoring defense, holding opponents to a 60.4-point clip.

"We always talk about how the defense is the key to the ignition," Oney said. "In order for us to get out and do the things we're capable of doing on the offensive end, it had to start with strong defensive stretches to make sure the other team couldn't do what they wanted to."

Although the Wildcats had their chance to play for a national championship taken from them due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, it's hard not to beam with pride when reflecting on everything the Wildcats accomplished in 2019-20.

"This is well deserved recognition for Coach Oney. His hard work and commitment to our men's basketball has propelled Pearl River to become the best JUCO program in the country," Pearl River President Dr. Adam Breerwood said. "I am proud of him, his staff and our exceptional players. Coach Oney takes great pride in not only recruiting premier players, but he also works relentlessly to provide life-changing transfer opportunities after completing their time at PRCC. 

"Under his leadership our players are succeeding on the court, in the classroom and in the surrounding communities. I am grateful to the NJCAA for recognizing the remarkable work of Coach Oney with this distinction."

The NJCAA Coach of the Year honor will accompany 2019-20 MACJC and Region XXIII awards on Oney's mantle.

After four seasons at the helm of the Wildcats program, Oney has built a 91-18 overall record. His 93.1 percent winning percentage over the last two seasons is tops in the NJCAA. 

INDIVIDUAL HONORS
 Oney isn't the only Wildcat who's taking home hardware this season.

Tae Hardy (Ellenwood, Ga.; Believe Prep) and Isaih Moore (Columbia, S.C.; Sumter) were both All-MACJC, All-Region XXIII and All-Region XXIII Tournament selections. Hardy was named to the NJCAA All-America First Team, while Moore was named to the Second Team. Rodgerick Brown (Memphis, Tenn.; Cordova) was also named to the All-Region XXIII Tournament and All-Region XXIII teams. 

MOVING ON
 The Wildcats are once again sending a number of players on to the next level. Moore has already signed with St. John's. Hardy is committed to Southern Miss, Brown is headed to Tulsa and Cameron Smith (Okolona) has pledged to Cal State-Bakersfield. More Wildcats are expected to commit as the signing window nears. 

LOOKING AHEAD
 It may seem like hyperbole, but Oney believes next year's team could once again raise the bar for PRCC. On Monday the Wildcats announced their initial six signees for the 2020 signing class. The newest Wildcats are prep standouts Ankerion Gross of North Panola, KeDarius "Squirt" Stampley of Natchez, Cameron Brown of Hattiesburg, Jaquevias Tarvin of Brandon and Joe Cooper of Olive Branch. The five high school standouts are joined by Daytona State transfer and one-time Kansas State commit Damerius Wash.

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