MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Kyle Rechlicz, head coach of the Milwaukee women's basketball program, was named Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Division I Women's Coach of the Year, according to a release earlier this week.
 
Rechlicz's staff was also named Division I Women's College Staff of the Year following a 20-8 record which led to an at-large bid to the WNIT, the third in program history.
 
Highlighted by a defense that was ranked in the top 20 of NCAA Division I all season long, the Panthers recorded their 10th 20-win season in program history. At one point, the Panthers were receiving votes in both the USA Today and AP Polls for the first time in program history. MKE owned the state, taking down Marquette and beating Green Bay in both matchups.
 
The Panthers also opened Horizon League play with their best start in program history at 12-0 and finished 15-5 in league play as they were crowned co-champions for the third time in program history.
 
MKE also finished the year as the best free throw shooting team in NCAA Division I history, setting a new NCAA record at the charity stripe. The Panthers hit 83.8 percent of their shots from the line to knock off the previous record of 83.2 percent, which was set by Idaho State in 2008.
 
The full list of coach of the year winners is below.
 
High School Boys: Nick Bennett, St. Catherine's and Otto Hopfinger, Hustisford (Co-Winners)
High School Girls: Brandon Siska, Lake Mills
College D1-Men: Greg Gard, UW-Madison
College D1-Women: Kyle Rechlicz, Milwaukee
College D2-3 Men: Jeff Gard, UW-Platteville
College D2-3 Women: Brad Fischer, UW-Oshkosh
College Staff of the Year D1 Men: UW-Madison Staff
College Staff of the Year D1 Women: Milwaukee Staff
College Staff of the Year D2-3 Men: UW-Platteville Staff
College Staff of the Year D2-3 Women: UW-Oshkosh Staff