LEXINGTON, Ky. — Former Kentucky and current Arizona Diamonbacks pitcher Brandon Webb has been named the Kentucky Sportsman of the Year, in voting done by a statewide panel of media, the Lexington Herald-Leader announced.
Webb, a right-handed pitcher who lettered at Kentucky from 1998-2000, claimed the National League Cy Young award after posting career-highs with a 3.10 ERA and 16 wins during the 2006 MLB season. The Ashland, Ky. native relies heavily on a dominating sinker ball which forces batters into numerous ground ball outs. Webb became the first UK product to claim the award since James Whalen Jr. did so in 1999.
Webb was one of nine UK representatives to claim a place in the top 20, including five of the top six spots. Joining Webb in the top 20 were head baseball coach John Cohen (No. 3), head women?s basketball coach Mickie DeMoss (No. 4), junior quarterback Andre? Woodson (No. 5), head football coach Rich Brooks (No. 6), former UK golfer and PGA Tour standout J.B. Holmes (No. 9), Miami Heat head coach Pat Riley (No. 13), 2006 All-America first basemen Ryan Strieby (No. 16) and NCAA diving champion Taryn Ignacio (No. 17).
Cohen and DeMoss both claimed Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year in their respective sports after leading their squads to unmatched success and national recognition a year ago. Cohen led the 2006 team to a school-record 44 wins and the first NCAA Lexington Regional in school history, while creating an unprecedented buzz for UK baseball among Big Blue Nation which translated into a 453 percent increase in attendance from the 2005 to 2006 seasons.
DeMoss and her UK Hoops squad also had a historic season, as they sprung an upset on the then top-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols in front of 13,689 fans in Rupp Arena. The 2006 UK Hoops team would later earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in seven years.
Woodson and Brooks helped direct Kentucky?s drastic turnaround on the football field this season, leading a Wildcat team to its best record in 22 years and a 28-20 win over Clemson in the Music City Bowl. Woodson would become one of only two Kentucky quarterbacks to throw over 30 touchdown passes in a season, joining former No. 1 NFL Draft selection Tim Couch.
Holmes quickly established himself as one of the best young golfers on the PGA Tour after enjoying a stellar career at Kentucky. The Campbellsville, Ky. native won in only his fourth Tour event and finished the season ranked 59th on the Tour money list after earning $1.5 million in his rookie year.
Riley, longtime NBA head coach and former UK basketball star under legendary coach Adolph Rupp, won his seventh NBA title as his Dwayne Wade led Miami Heat claimed the NBA Championship in six games after falling in a 2-0 hole.
Kentucky diver Taryn Ignacio became UK?s first NCAA diving champion en route to her second consecutive SEC Diver of the Year award. The Richmond, Ky. native set school and meet records on the 10-meter platform while diving for SEC Diving Coach of the Year Mike Lyden.
Strieby arrived at Kentucky as a junior-college transfer expected to contribute at first base and quickly evolved into the best UK baseball player in recent memory, rewriting the UK record books in leading the Wildcats to its first ever SEC Championship. Strieby finished the season as the SEC Player of the Year after blasting 20 home runs and driving in 77 runs while batting at a .343 clip.
Kentucky Baseball Displays Academic Excellence
Among the cornerstones of Kentucky head baseball coach John Cohen?s philosophy is a commitment to academic excellence and the Wildcat baseball team has bought into that commitment, as the team saw 22 individuals achieve a 3.0 GPA or better during the fall 2006 semester.
As a team, Kentucky posted a very respectable 2.905 GPA during the fall semester. During the last four years of the Cohen era, a total of 38 Wildcats have been named Academic All-SEC, with Collin Cowgill and Greg Dombrowski receiving ESPN Academic All-American honors last season.
