ELMHURST, Ill. - Elmhurst College men's basketball head coach John Baines has been named as a co-winner of the "Division III Coach of the Year" award by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association.
 

Baines was selected as a co-recipient of the award along with Augustana's Grey Giovanine and Illinois Wesleyan's Ron Rose. He will be recognized on May 2 at the IBCA's 42nd annual Hall of Fame Banquet at Illinois State University.

In just his second season as head coach of the Bluejays, Baines guided Elmhurst to the CCIW and NCAA Tournaments for the first time since the 2009 season. 

Baines inherited a squad that was coming off of a 6-19 season during the 2013 season. He guided Elmhurst to an eight-game turnaround and a 14-11 overall record in his first season at the helm during the 2013-14 season. This season, he led Elmhurst to a 20-8 overall record and a 9-5 record in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. The Bluejays reached the 20-win plateau for just the fourth time in school history.

Baines led the Bluejays to the NCAA Tournament for just the fourth time in school history and team team stunned fifth-ranked St. Norbert College in a triple-overtime thriller in the opening round before bowing out. 

In just two seasons as the Bluejays' head coach, Baines has an overall record of 34-19. Elmhurst is set to return nearly its entire squad in 2015-16, including all five starters.