LEXINGTON, Ky. - The America Volleyball Coaches Association coaches of the Midwest have selected Will Stanton as the 2008 Midwest Region Coach of the Year.

In his fifth season at the helm of the Saginaw Valley State University volleyball program, Stanton has continued to guide the program to new heights. The 2008 campaign saw the Cardinals turn in a 25-8 overall record, tying the school record for wins in a season. Under Stanton’s leadership, Saginaw Valley advanced to its first Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) tournament final for the first time in history, where it fell to arch nemesis Grand Valley State in four sets. The firsts didn’t stop there, as the Cardinals were selected to their first-ever NCAA Tournament, where they exceeded expectations, advancing to the Midwest Region final. Stanton led the squad to an 9-0 record to begin the season, and the team ended the campaign just as strong, winning 10 of its last 12 contests.