Southern Polytechnic State University basketball coach Mike Helfer has been named Coach of the Year for men's sports by the Georgia-Alabama-Carolina conference. Earlier in the year, he had been named basketball coach of the year by the GACC.

"I'm quite honored, but my award is really a reflection of the great men on the program. It's also great recognition for the school," said Helfer.

Helfer is in his fourth season as basketball coach and is returning 11 out of 14 lettermen to the 2000-2001 team. Last year he coached the Southern Polytechnic State University Runnin' Hornets to a 28-7 record, the regular season GACC championship, the GACC tournament championship, and a round of 16 finish in the NAIA national championship.

Southern Polytechnic State University is a residential university with approximately 4,000 students pursuing bachelor's and master's degrees in many of the nation's fastest-growing fields related to engineering and technology. One mile west of I-75's Exit 263, the university is 20 minutes northwest of downtown Atlanta, GA.