Burns and Winston receive IBCA Co-Coach of the Year honors

Triton head basketball coaches Brian Burns (men) and Drew Winston (women) have been named Co-Coaches of the Year by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) for NJCAA's Region 4 Division I.

Each off of completing their second full year as permanent coaches, Burns shared the IBCA honors with Tyler Smithpeters of John A. Logan College while Winston was co-top coach with Jeff Dillard of Olive-Harvey College and Luke Scheidecker of Wabash Valley College. They will receive the awards at the 53^rd annual IBCA Coach of the Year Luncheon Saturday, May 3, at Redbird Arena in downstate Normal, Ill. The event will recognize the top high school and college coaches from this past season in the state of Illinois.

Burns led the 29-6 Trojans to their second straight national tournament berth in Hutchinson, Kan., last March, having lost in the title game in 2024. Triton was 16-0 at home in 2024-25.

Winston has maintained the women at an elite level in a steady buildup begun five years ago under predecessor Marques Hatch. The 2024-25 Trojans were 27-5, finishing Region 4 Division I runners-up.

Both Burns and Winston believe their awards are as much for their programs' overall excellence compared to individual coaching savvy.

"Credit goes to a lot of different people -- the administration and the people around the (athletic) building," Burns said. "We're creeping into the blue blood category as a good program."

Added Winston: "We finished with one of the best records in school history. This is truly a testament of what my staff and I put together after Coach Hatch put us on the map. We want to continue to improve."

Both coaches feel they are more knowledgeable at their craft than on their first day on the job.

"You're always as a coach watching (basketball), whether it's the four-year (college) game, the NBA, the overseas game," Burns said. "I have really good assistants, and you listen to what they're adding. Deciding what you like and what you don't like.

What works and didn't work each year. You don't want to get stale and not keep learning.

"Each year is different. You have to be willing to morph to the team and adapt to different players. The biggest thing is holding kids to a standard. You figure out each kid (whether to pat him on the back or kick him in the butt). Each kid is truly different."
Winston said he is more patient than on Day One.

"Man, I was a firecracker," he said. "I was coached by old-school dudes, but over time I've been more patient. Every player is not the same and does not respond the same.

"You're a little more understanding of games, and the situation refs are in. Try to not hound them so much. It's the maturity of growing up. Your confidence goes up. At this point, I've seen everything possible.  I think I've seen every defense, every press.

"I'm a student of the game, always trying to learn.  This is something I want to do the rest of my life."

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(Story by tritonathletics.com contributor George Castle)