MARQUETTE — It takes a lot of work and a lot of time to be named one of the best basketball coaches in the Upper Peninsula, but Westwood girls head coach Kurt Corcoran almost made it look easy this season.

Corcoran led the Patriots to a 24-2 record and a trip to the MHSAA Division 3 state quarterfinals, having two of his players, Tessa Leece and Madi Koski, earn spots on the U.P. Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association All-U.P. Dream Team. Leece was also named UPSSA Division 1-2-3 Player of the Year.

Not surprisingly with those achievements, Corcoran was named UPSSA Division 1-2-3 Coach of the Year. Baraga’s Tom Goodreau and St. Ignace’s Dorene Ingalls were co-recipients of the Division 4 coaching award.

Goodreau’s squad finished 21-4 and won five D-4 tournament games before falling to the Saints in the quarterfinals. St. Ignace (27-1) made it all the way to the state championship game before suffering its only loss of the season by two points to Adrian Lenawee Christian.

When asked how he felt about the Division 1-3 coaches award, Corcoran appreciated it while giving all the credit to his players.

“I’m very honored to win this award, but I don’t win this award without players like Madi and Tessa and Natalie (Prophet) and Karlie (Patron) and all of my girls,” he said. “It’s a wonderful award and it definitely makes the hours and time you put in feel worth it.

“But it wouldn’t be possible without the kids buying into our system and doing all the crazy activities and long hours that I ask of them. It’s really just a huge shout-out to my girls.”

Ryan Stieg can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 252. His email address is rstieg@miningjournal.net.