MEN'S BASKETBALL
HOFFMAN NAMED INDEPENDENT COACH OF THE YEAR
Contact: Mike Bond (mibond@panam.edu), UTPA Assistant Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

Edinburg, Texas - Texas-Pan American won half of the individual awards and placed three players on the 2003-04 All-Independent Team. The team and awards were voted on by the coaches of the NCAA Division I Independents; Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Texas-Pan American, Utah Valley State, IPFW and Northern Colorado.

Bob Hoffman was named the Independent Coach of the Year. The Broncs were 5-13 at one point before winning nine of their last ten games. Included in that run was a win over #27 Air Force. The Broncs finished at 14-14 for their second winning season in the last three years. Coach Hoffman is 68-77 in five years at UTPA and 399-171 in 17 years overall.

Chris Fagan (Jr./Bronx, N.Y./Trinidad State College) was honored as the Newcomer of the Year. Fagan averaged 10.1 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting 76% from the free throw line.
Sergio Sanchez (Jr./San Antonio, Texas/Temple College) was named to the first team. Sanchez averaged 12.9 points and 4.50 assists a game while shooting 37% from the behind the arc and 86.6% from the line. He is currently ranked 20th in NCAA Division I for free throw shooting.

Fagan and Allen Holcomb (Sr./Chicago, Ill./Allen County CC) were selected to second team. Holcomb averaged 9.0 points and 6.6 rebounds a game while shooting 47% from the floor. Had 12 points and eight rebounds in that big win over Air Force.

'Well, I was not expecting this award by any stretch of the imagination." Said Hoffman. "This completely surprises me. The guys made a significant run at the end of the season. It's great to see Chris get honored. He continued to get better every time out. He was really getting a feel of what we were asking him to do. Sergio did a tremendous job of leading the squad this year. He made the big shots and controlled the ball very well. Sergio played hard every night out. Allen had one of the best years of anyone on the team. This is a great way for him to end his college career."