The 2021-2022 junior college season was one to remember as Arizona junior college programs returned to the basketball court in full force, after a COVID-year when most programs were not permitted to participate. After a year off for the conference, the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) returned to action this season, and it was an exciting season all year long, and ended in fine fashion with Cochise College winning the ACCAC Division-I Conference Championship, and Scottsdale JC ultimately winning the ACCAC Division-II Conference Championship. As a result of the season, we have selected our Coaches of the Year for both DIvision-I and Division-II Junior Colleges in the ACCAC.
Arizona Preps ACCAC Division-I Coach of the Year - Kyle Isaacs - Arizona Western JC
After a long wait for his opportunity at the helm, Kyle isaacs (pictured) took over the Arizona Western basketball program this season in very fine fashion, as he led the program to an exceptional season - leading the Matadors to a nice 25-4 overall record during the regular season, and finishing as the ACCAC regular-season champions with an impressive 18-2 conference record in only his first season as head coach. In the process, Arizona Western became one of the hottest programs in the country - winning (15) conference games in a row at one point, and taking over first place in the conference.
The amazing 25-win season by Isaacs and his staff in their first season was the second-most wins by a first-year head coach in Arizona Western's program history, one behind Charles Harral and Dave Babcock, who each won 26 games. Isaacs is also the third coach in program history to win an ACCAC regular-season title in his first season.
Isaacs put together a very strong team in his first season, filled with talented prospects, and raised the level of basketball in the conference, as the ACCAC looks to continue to rebuild back to the level it once was nationally, when it was respected as one of the better conferences in the country. The Arizona Western basketball program is in excellent hands with Isaacs and his staff, and he is off to an excellent start in his head coaching career.
Arizona Preps ACCAC Division-II Coach of the Year - Mark Bunker - Scottsdale JC
Division-II programs were log-jammed all season long, until the end of the season when Head Coach Mark Bunker and his Scottsdale Junior College program took over the reigns and brought home the ACCAC Diviision-II Conference Championship -edging out Glendale JC with an 11-9 Conference Record, and finishing with a 19-13 overall record on the season.
After a full season (2020-2021) when Scottsdale Junior College did not play, Bunker and his staff lost many of their players to transfer, but Bunker was able to rebuild his team and program in less than a year, and return to win the conference. While Bunker's ultimately lacked true size this season, Bunker adapted and went with a fast-paced offense, led by his high-scoring backcourt, and was very successful as a result.
Bunker is a pillar in the Scottsdale community, as he played his high school basketball in the area at Chaparral High School, and has worked very hard to develop Scottsdale JC into one of the top Division-II junior college programs in the country. Bunker also works hard to recruit the area annually and has provided excellent opportunities for Arizona prospects to continue their college playing careers. Bunker is one of the top younger coaches in the junior college ranks nationally, and continues to exceed expectations for the Scottsdale JC program.
Bunker was also selected as the 2020 Arizona Preps Co-Coach of the Year by our staff.
