Norwell girls’ basketball coach Eric Thornton was awarded the District 1 Bob King Coach of the Year by the IBCA on Thursday.
He was one of three coaches honored by the IBCA, including Danville’s Kaley May and Lanesville’s Angie Hinton. This is the second time Thornton has won the award, the first dating back to his 2011-12 season.
Thornton recently led the Knights back to the state final for the first time since 1977, compiling a 23-5 record and state runner-up in his 27th season.
This season, Thornton won the Northeast 8 Conference and racked up his 12th sectional championship trophy, his fourth regional and first semi-state crown.
The Coach of the Year award honors Bob King, who was the executive director for the IBCA for 10 years. He was inducted to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1986 after coaching Sacred Heart and Southridge, then serving the Purdue University athletic department. It has been awarded every year since 1972 for both the girls and boys.
Thornton will be recognized and receive a plaque for this achievement at the 2024 IBCA Clinic on April 25-26 at Mt. Vernon High School.
