SVEHLA ANNOUNCED AS ONE OF THE FIRST EVER HONOREES OF NJCAA COACHES LEGACY AWARDS

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Northeast Community College head women's basketball coach Matt Svehla has been named as one of the first ever honorees of the NJCAA Coaches Legacy Awards, which recognizes the all-time winningest coaches in NJCAA history, it was announced by the NJCAA. This is the first time in the near 90-year history of the NJCAA that coaches have been recognized in such a fashion by the Association.

Svehla recently finished his 31st season with the Hawks and earned his 700th-career victory back on January 22 against Des Moines Area Community College at the Cox Activities Center in Norfolk. Svehla has completed 23 seasons at Northeast with 20 or more wins, has won 22 conference championships and has qualified for the NJCAA National Tournament twice.

During the 2024-25 season, Svehla proved that he can still get it done even after all these years as his team finished with a record of 21-9 and qualified for the Region 11-A Tournament Championship Game. Mia Wiederin (Norfolk, Neb.) and Aaliyah Jones (Rapid City, S.D.) were both named First Team All-Region while Clara Garrote (Salamanca, Spain) was named Third Team All-Region.

A native of Clarkson, Nebraska, Svehla was a student-athlete at Northeast before playing for the University of Nebraska men's basketball team from 1987-89. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and his master's degree from Wayne State College.

"Being able to recognize our coaches, past and present, is a wonderful thing for the NJCAA, our member institutions, the coaches, and their families," said Dr. Christopher Parker, NJCAA President and CEO. "We look forward to having many of these coaches come together for us to celebrate their accomplishments and contributions to the NJCAA later this year."

Nearly 200 coaches across 28 different sports were nominated by the member colleges at which they coached, and all honorees will be recognized at a special luncheon on Tuesday, June 17, in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the Hilton Charlotte University Place Hotel. The luncheon will precede the 2025 NJCAA Hall of Fame and Awards event, scheduled for later that day.

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