AMERICUS – Americus-Sumter Boys Basketball Coach Michael Hoffpauir has been named the Americus Times-Recorder boys basketball Coach of the year for his team’s performance during the 2017-18 season.

Hoffpauir was notified of the decision on Tuesday, April 3.

Hoffpauir guided the Panthers to a 25-4 overall record and a regular season region championship. They were region tournament runner ups and earned a berth into the Sweet 16 of the GHSA Class AAAA State Tournament. Their magical season came to an end when they fell to Baldwin in a heartbreaker by the score of 60-59.

“I am truly honored to be the Americus Times-Recorder Boys Basketball Coach of the Year,” Hoffpauir said. “I have a very good coaching staff and I have been blessed with some very hard-working and dedicated players with parents that understand that hard work pays off. We have built a very consistent program here and I am very proud of the success we have had.”

Hoffpauir’s club had three players to be named on the All-Region Team: Joshua Lusane (15.1 ppg, 8 rpg), Eric Hall (15.8 ppg, 5.5 apg) and Traveon Brown (9.6 rpg, 3.1 apg).

Hoffpauir began his high school coaching career back in 2007, when he was an assistant coach at Colquitt County from 2007-2011. He then became the boys head basketball coach at Randolph-Clay, and was there from 2012-2014. During his two years at Randolph-Clay, He amassed a 40-19 record and guided his teams to two state quarterfinal appearances. In the second year, the Red Devils were region tournament champions. Hoffpauir then came to Americus-Sumter in 2014. In his first year at the helm, he guided the Panthers to a 26-6 record and won the regular season region championship. The Panthers were the region tournament runner ups and advanced to the GHSA State Tournament Quarterfinals. In his second year at Americus-Sumter, the Panthers finished 15-9, but in his third year at ASH, Hoffpauir guided the Panthers to an overall record of 21-7.  During this season, the Panthers won the regular season region championship and they were region tournament runner ups. Hoffpauir’s all-time coaching record is currently 127-45.

Though he will lose eight seniors, Hoffpauir has several important underclassmen coming back, including All-Region performer Joshua Lusane, who will be a senior next year. Many more wins and much more success is expected for Hoffpauir and the Panthers.