(LEBANON, Ill., April 18)—The National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association (NCBCA) honored two key figures from the McKendree University men's bowling program at its awards banquet Wednesday evening in Dayton, Ohio.
 
McKendree's Dennis Knepper was selected as the 2018-19 NCBCA Kerm Helmer Men's Bowling Coach of the Year, while senior Collin Smith (Huron, SD/Huron) earned honorable mention All-America honors from the NCBCA. The awards were announced at the pre-tournament banquet prior to the start of the 2019 Intercollegiate Team Championship.

"I'm honored, and still a little shocked," said Knepper after receiving the award. "This honor is more a testament to our team and how well they have performed over the past few years. I'm proud of what they have been able to accomplish the last few years, and hope we can finish this season on a strong note."
 
Knepper received his first national Coach of the Year award after leading McKendree to another strong regular season in 2018-19. Under his guidance, the Bearcats won five in-season tournaments, including a run of three straight from late November to mid-January. In all, McKendree posted top-five finishes in eight tournament during the regular season, then went on to place second at the sectional qualifier in Dallas for the ITC last month. This will mark the Bearcats' eighth appearance in the ITC field in the last nine years.
 
McKendree has won two of the last three ITC titles under Knepper's leadership. The Bearcats rallied from a two-game deficit to storm past William Paterson University to win their first crown in 2016. Last April, McKendree added its second ITC national championship with a four-game victory against Robert Morris University (Ill.) in the finals held in Lincoln, Neb.
 
Knepper is the first McKendree coach to win NCBCA Coach of the Year honors. He has been a part of the Bearcat bowling program since 2007, taking over as head coach of the men's squad in 2008.
 
Smith put together a solid senior season at McKendree, finishing 26^th in the nation in average during all events in 2018-19. Smith averaged 206.53 for the Bearcats this season. Smith registered a total of five top-25 finishes in tournament play this season, including a second-place effort at the Kegel/ISBPA Midwest Collegiate Classic near Chicago in January.
 
With Wednesday's award, Smith becomes the first McKendree bowler to claim NCBCA All-America honors since Greg Young (Rockledge, FL/Viera) was a first-team honoree in 2016-17.