ichmond, Va. (March 4, 2004)—Drexel University Head Coach Bruiser Flint has been named the 2003-04 Colonial Athletic Association Coach of the Year. The announcement was made at the CAA Awards Banquet. Flint led the Dragons to a 13-5 mark in the CAA and an 18-9 overall record. It was Flint's second CAA Coach of the Year award in his three seasons at Drexel.

In addition to Flint's award, four Drexel players were honored at the banquet, including freshman standout Bashir Mason (Jersey City, N.J/St. Benedict's), who was named the CAA's Defensive Player of the Year and selected to the All-Rookie Team. Phil Goss (Temple Hills, Md./Oxon Hill) was named First Team All-CAA, while Tim Whitworth (Philadelphia, Pa./Chestnut Hill Academy) and Sean Brooks (Bladensburg, Md./Central) were named Second Team All-CAA.

Flint has had a remarkable run in his first three seasons in University City. The Dragons have improved each season and have finished better than the preseason polls have predicted in each year. This year, the Dragons were picked to finish fifth in the CAA Media Poll and fourth in the CAA Coaches Poll. Flint has compiled a 51-35 mark in his three seasons at Drexel and a 36-18 record in CAA games. In his eight seasons as a head coach at Drexel and at UMass, Flint has finished at least two games above .500 in league games every year. His teams have won 10 or more conference games six different times, including the last four seasons.

Mason, the team's starting point guard, led the CAA with 2.33 steals per game. He was also tied for fifth in the league with 4.37 assists per game. Mason's 63 assists are the sixth highest single-season total in Drexel history.

Goss averaged 13.9 points and is ranked 12th in the nation with 3.23 3-pointers per game. He was ninth in the CAA in scoring, second in 3-point percentage and fifth in steals. Goss has 84 3-pointers this season and needs just two more to tie the school's single-season record. The junior has 1,038 career points and is 23rd on the school's all-time scoring list. He is also fourth on the school's career 3-point field goal list with 219 and sixth all-time with 130 steals.

Whitworth led the Dragons with 14.1 points per game. The senior is shooting a league-leading .539 from 3-point distance. Whitworth has shot better than 59 percent from long range in conference games. He went over the 1,000-point mark in the team's final regular-season game and is tied for 25th on the school's career scoring list and is ninth in career 3-pointers with 136.

Brooks has started every game for the Dragons and is averaging 13.9 points, the 10th-best total in the CAA. He has increased his scoring average by more than 10 points, the highest total in the CAA. Brooks enters the postseason 10th in all of Division I with a .604 field-goal percentage and leads the league in that category. He is in the CAA top 10 in scoring, rebounding, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, blocked shots and field-goal percentage.

Drexel begins the CAA Tournament on Saturday night against the winner of the UNC Wilmington-James Madison game.