Snubbed? Kotzur Doesn´t Grab Player of Year Award

Kevin Kotzur (55) and Lamb Autrey made the All-Heartland Team. (File Photo: Antonio Morano Photography / www.moranomemories.photoreflect.com)

LAREDO, Texas — No player in the Heartland Conference has been as decorated, productive or downright dominant as St. Mary’s Kevin Kotzur over the past two seasons.

The Rattlers’ big man leads the league this year in rebounding (8.6 per game), field–goal percentage (64.7 percent) and is second in scoring (17.7 points per game), and took home five of the 14 Player of the Week honors doled out by the league.

All this comes after he led the league in each of those categories a season ago by averaging 17.9 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 67.9 percent from the floor. And as was the case this year, no one won more Heartland Player of the Week awards last season than Kotzur (Jr., La Vernia, Texas).

But for the second straight year, the Heartland Conference’s head men’s basketball coaches have voted someone else the Heartland Conference Player of the Year.

Kotzur, who ranks fourth in the nation in field–goal percentage, made the All–Heartland First Team but lost the Player of the Year battle to Texas A&M International’s Evan Matteson, it was announced Thursday evening.

Matteson, who was not named the Player of the Week at any point this season, ranks ninth in the conference in scoring (12.6 points per game) and is fifth in the league in rebounding (6.8 per game) for the Dustdevils, who finished one game above the Rattlers (17–8, 10–4) in the final regular–season standings.

Lamb Autrey (Sr., Cibolo, Texas) joined Kotzur on the All–Heartland Team, being named to the Second Team after averaging 12.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists for the Rattlers.

On the court, Kotzur won the head–to–head battle against Matteson this season as the Rattlers and Dustdevils split their regular–season series, recording 28 points and nine rebounds to Matteson’s 14 points and three boards in the Rattlers’ road win in Laredo late last month. Kotzur had a double–double in their previous meeting, scoring 13 and hauling in 11 boards compared to Matteson’s 10 points and two rebounds when the teams met in San Antonio earlier in the season.

But neither that, nor the overwhelming season statistical edge, was enough to sway the coaches’ votes in Kotzur’s favor.

Texas A&M International’s Shane Rinner was named the Coach of the Year, while Newman’s Shamar Acuay is the Newcomer of the Year. Texas–Permian Basin’s Erik Martin won Defensive Player of the Year honors, while teammate Madison Turner was voted the Freshman of the Year.

Rounding out the All–Heartland First Team with Kotzur and Matteson was Dustdevil Ryan McLucas and — despite Dallas Baptist not qualifying for the Heartland Tournament — pair of Patriot players, Nick Fox and Jordan McGowen.

Making the switch from shooting guard to point guard, Autrey has been tremendous piloting the Rattlers’ offense this season, shaking off an early–season wrist injury to emerge as the team leader Rattler fans hoped and expected he would become.

Kotzur, an All–Region selection in each of the past two seasons, burst onto the scene as a freshman when he averaged 15.7 points and 8.4 rebounds two seasons ago. He only got better from there, soaring up the school’s record books. Going into the Heartland Conference Tournament, he ranks No. 9 on the Rattlers’ all–time scoring list with 1,395 career points and is No. 4 on the career rebounding list with 687 boards.

Could Kotzur and Matteson be headed toward another battle before everything is said and done? Well, that depends on what happens in tonight’s Heartland Conference semifinals, as the third–seeded Rattlers battle No. 2 Newman at 7:30 p.m. in Laredo. TAMIU hosts No. 4–seeded Arkansas–Fort Smith at 5:30 p.m.

St. Mary’s University, as a Catholic Marianist University, fosters the formation of people in faith and educates leaders for the common good through community service, integrated liberal arts and professional education, and academic excellence. The University has six athletic national titles: men’s basketball (1989–NAIA), baseball (2001–NCAA Div. II), softball (1986–NAIA and 2002–NCAA Div. II) and an individual national champion in men’s golf (2006–NCAA Div. II) and a national academic championship in men’s golf (2009–NCAA Div. II). St. Mary’s also had more than 40 percent of its athletes named to conference, regional and/or national honor rolls this past year. St. Mary’s student–athletes graduation rate is 65 percent, higher than the NCAA Division II average of 55 percent. To learn more about St. Mary's, visit www.stmarytx.edu/athletics.

    

Coaching Staff

Head Coach Jim Zeleznak

Jim Zeleznak is in his eighth season as the head men's basketball coach at St. Mary's University after serving as the assistant coach to legendary coach Buddy Meyer for 27 years. In his 22 years as either head coach of the men's basketball or softball teams, none have posted a losing record.

Last season, Zeleznak and the Rattlers stomped their competition to end the season with a 19-9 record that saw them win a Heartland Conference championship title and earn a trip to the South Central Regional Tournament.

Zeleznak led the Rattlers to an overall conference record of 11-4 that had them enter the tournament as the No. 3 seed, only to come out on top and advance to the regional tournament to face the No. 1 seed in the regional, Midwestern State University. In their first national appearance since 2008, the Rattlers nearly pulled off the upset, losing by just eight points.

Under the direction of Zeleznak, junior Kevin Kotzur led the Rattlers in his usual manner for the third straight year, topping the stats for the Rattlers -- and the Heartland Conference -- with an average of 17.9 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. Within the conference, Kotzur was selected All-Conference First Team and was a five-time Player of the Week. The 6-foot-8 post nabbed a slew of honors including the NABC All-District Second Team selection, and was named to the Daktronics All-Region Second Team for the third straight year. In addition, he was voted the Most Valuable Player of the Heartland Conference Tournament. Kotzur also finished the regular season third in the nation in shooting percentage, finishing the season at 66.0 percent from the floor. Having quickly emerged as an all-time great at St. Mary's, Kotzur ranks No. 8 on the school's all-time scoring chart with 1,453 points and No. 3 on the all-time rebounding list with 714 career boards.

Kotzur returns for his final year this upcoming season, and when paired with five new signees, he figures he extend Zeleznak's winning tradition further.

Zeleznak followed his tradition of winning seasons the previous season as well, as the Rattlers posted an overall record of 15-12. Zeleznak and the Rattlers tied for the No. 3 seed in the Heartland Conference, with a conference record of 7-5. Zeleznak has three returning starters in his crew with some new faces that hope to continue his winning tradition. Now at an overall record of 99-72, Zeleznak holds the number three rank as the most winningest men's basketball coach in Rattler history, just one win away from the coveted 100th win.

Zeleznak led the Rattlers deep in the Heartland Conference Tournament the previous season, where the Rattlers advanced following a 17-13 season that included gonig 10-6 in conference play. He entered the 2010-11 season with an 84-60 record (.572 percentage) in five years at the helm, leaving him just four victories away from becoming the Rattlers' third winningest men's basketball coach behind Ed Messbarger (279 wins) and Buddy Meyer (530).

Zeleznak guided the Rattlers to their best record to date as head coach two seasons ago. Despite fielding a squad that had just one returning starter, St. Mary's went 17-11 and finished the regular season with a seven game win streak. They finished the season ranked second in the Heartland Conference.

In 2007-2008, he helped lead the Rattlers to the Heartland Conference Tournament title and a 17-13 overall record. The Rattlers advanced to the NCAA South Central Region Tournament for the fourth time since moving to Division II in 2000.

Over his eight years as Rattler head coach, 15 Rattlers have earned All-Heartland Conference honors, including Kevin Kotzur and senior Lamb Autrey in 2011-12. Kotzur was named the league's Newcomer and Freshman of the Year two seasons ago, while Campbell was named the Defensive Player of the Year. Mitchell was voted onto the All-Heartland Conference's second team. Mitchell and Nick Morey each were honored in 2009. Lorenzo Anthony was named Heartland Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2008 and 2009, while Rod Bellard earned Heartland Conference Freshman of the Year honors in 2006. Morey earned All-South Central Region honors in 2009.

During his time as the Rattlers' assistant coach, St. Mary's compiled a 531-252 record. He served as the chief recruiter for the Rattlers and coach Meyer. In that role, he helped bring in some of the top players in school history, including All-Americans Ricky Hooker and Pete Hansen.

Upon Zeleznak's hire in 2005, Athletics Director Charlie Migl said, "Jim Zeleznak has been such a great coach for so many years. I think it is a great thing that he can continue the tradition and continue the success that he helped build."

During his time as assistant coach, the Rattlers made 14 National Tournament appearances, including trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament in the 2002-2003 season, the 2003-2004 season, and the 2004-2005 season, and won 16 conference titles. In 1989, the Rattlers captured the NAIA National Championship.

Zeleznak is one of two coaches at St. Mary's who has been the head coach of a national championship team (softball) and an assistant coach or player on another national championship team (basketball).

Zeleznak served as the head softball coach for 15 years. His teams had winning records every season, giving him a 401-184 record. During his tenure, the Rattlers advanced to the NAIA National Tournament 12 times, including 10 consecutive appearances. His teams won Big State and Heart of Texas Conference titles in 14 of his 15 years as coach. In 1986, he guided the Rattlers to St. Mary's first National Championship and was named the NAIA Softball Coach of the Year. As head softball coach, 19 of his players were recognized with All-American honors. Four more were named Academic All-American.

Prior to coming back to his alma mater to be a coach, Zeleznak was a coach at San Antonio's Holy Cross High School for three seasons.

Zeleznak played basketball for the Rattlers as a freshman, before switching his focus to coaching. He holds a bachelor's degree from St. Mary's and a master's degree from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University). Zeleznak is a native of Shawnee Mission, Kansas. He and his wife, Jennifer, have two children, John Patrick and Kaeleen Marie.

Assistant Coach Bubba Meyer

Herman A. "Bubba" Meyer III is in his 12th year as an assistant coach with the men's basketball team, but has spent his whole life in and around the Rattler Athletics Department.

During his 11 years with the Rattlers, St. Mary's has posted a 185-126 overall record with four Heartland Conference titles and four trips to the NCAA Division II South Central Region Tournament.

Last season, Meyer helped St. Mary's to a 19-9 record, as the Rattlers took the Heartland Conference postseason crown and advanced to the South Central Regional.

His experience with the men's program began as a player in 1997. A four-year starter in the point guard position, Meyer led his team to two National Tournament appearances, including the Rattler's first trip to the NCAA Division II National Tournament in 2001.

He has helped the Rattlers earn All-Heartland Conference honors 25 times over the last 12 years, while one has earned Heartland Player of the Year honors, three have earned Defensive Player of the Year, four have picked up Freshman of the Year and two earned Newcomer of the Year.

His talent and leadership were recognized with his appointment to numerous All-Tournament Teams as well as the 2000 All-Conference Team. Meyer was the recipient of the Brother Bill Siemer Free Throw Accuracy award and he led the team in the assist/turnover ratio four times for the Rattlers. In addition, he was selected by his teammates as the Most Valuable Player his senior year.

Meyer is the son of former Rattler coach Buddy Meyer, who was recently inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame. He is a 2001 graduate of St. Mary's University with a bachelor's degree in exercise and sport science. He graduated with a master's degree in education leadership from St. Mary's in 2004.

He is married to the former Vanessa Peterson. The couple have three sons, Grayson, Dillon Rhys and Chase Jaxon.

Graduate Assistant Lorenzo Anthony

Lorenzo Anthony enters his second season as the Rattlers' graduate assistant after helping St. Mary's to the regional tournament during his first season last year.

Last season, Anthony helped St. Mary's to a 19-9 record, as the Rattlers took the Heartland Conference postseason crown and advanced to the South Central Regional.

Anthony hones the coach's corner as a former standout Rattler himself, having graduated in 2009 after two years in a Rattler uniform. Anthony twice won the Heartland Conference Defensive Player of the Year Award, making him the only Rattler in program history to do so. He was named All-Conference Honorable Mention and held the Heartland Conference championship crown during his first season in 2008.

The former Rattler small forward transferred from Northlake College before joining St. Mary's squad as a junior. The San Antonio native graduated from St. Mary's in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in exercise and sports science and became a student assistant before he began his graduate degree last year and his stint as the Rattlers' graduate assistant. Anthony is currently completing his master's degree in educational leadership.

2012-13 Men's Basketball Roster