Brizendine named VaSID Coach of the Year

Hokies coach earns first VaSID honors after Elite Eight run

December 21, 2016

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – Virginia Tech’s Mike Brizendine was named the Virginia Sports Information Directors Coach of the Year, with two Hokies earning All-State honors, announced Wednesday afternoon.

Brizendine picks up his first-ever VaSID Coach of the Year honor. He guided the Hokies to a 13-win campaign and a berth into the College Cup Quarterfinals. VT posted a program-best nine shutouts, finishing the season ranked No. 8 in the NSCAA Poll, and No. 11 in the RPI. It was the first time the Hokies appeared in the College Cup since 2007.

Two Hokies were named to the All-State teams, highlighted by Marcelo Acuna’s place on the first team. Acuna started all 22 games for Tech, tallying 11 goals and 25 points, with a hat trick against VMI. Acuna earned multiple other honors after his debut season, including multiple ACC Offensive Player of the Week awards and a spot on the Top Drawer Soccer Best XI third team.

Juan Pablo Saavedra rounded out Virginia Tech’s honors, earning a place on the All-State second team. Saavedra also started all 22 contests this season and registered four assists on the year, a team-best. Saavedra was part of a Hokies’ defensive unit that recorded a program-high 9 shutouts and 13 victories.

In all eight Virginia schools had representation on the all-state teams. Virginia, William & Mary, and Radford led the way with four selections apiece, while Virginia Tech, Liberty, and VCU had three. Longwood had a pair of representatives, and Old Dominion had one.

VaSID names 27 All-State teams in 15 sports each year, as well as an Academic All-State squad and an all-sports champion in both the University and College Divisions. Membership in VaSID is open to all media relations professionals working at a university or conference in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

VaSID Player of the Year
Edward Opoku, Virginia

VaSID Coach of the Year
Mike Brizendine, Virginia Tech

VaSID Rookie of the Year
Sebastien Hauret, Old Dominion

VaSID All-State First-Team

Forwards
Edward Opoku, Virginia ^
Marcelo Acuna, Virginia Tech
Tresor Mbuyu, Liberty

Midfielders
Antonio Bustamante, William & Mary
Finnlay Wyatt, Longwood
Pablo Aguilar, Virginia

Defenders
Jo Vetle Rimstad, Radford%
Fraser Colmer, Radford
Sergi Nus, Virginia
Dakota Barnathan, VCU

Goalie
Aitor Pouseu Blanco, Radford%

VaSID All-State Second Team

Forwards
William Eskay, William & Mary^
Luc Fatton, VCU
Ryder Bell, William & Mary ^

Midfielders
Rafael Santos, VCU^
Kevin Mendoza, Liberty
Jakob Strandsäter, Radford
Dan Campos, Longwood

Defenders
Marcel Berry, William & Mary
Kyle Carr, Liberty
Juan Pablo Saavedra, Virgina Tech

Goalie
Jeff Caldwell, Virginia^

^ - 2-time VaSID selection % - 3-time VaSID selection

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