Photo by Kim North The OVAC Bill Van Horne Coach of the Year was revealed during Tuesday night’s OVAC Banquet of Champions inside WesBanco Arena in downtown Wheeling. Sharing the prestigious award were Wheeling Central boys’ basketball coach Mel Stephens, left, and Monroe Central boys’ basketball coach Mason Lang. This is the fourth time the coveted award has been shared.

WHEELING — For only the fourth time in its history, the prestigious OVAC Bill Van Horne Coach of the Year award ended in co-Coaches of the Year as Monroe Central’s Mason Lang and Wheeling Central’s Mel Stephens were named the recipients Tuesday night during the 40th annual OVAC Banquet of Championship inside WesBanco Arena.

The two honorees won boys state basketball titles in their respective states on the same day in late March. They also played three times during the regular season, with Stephens and the Maroon Knights getting the better of Lang and his Seminoles twice, including in the OVAC Class 3A title tilt.

The award has been presented since 1969. The other Co-Coaches of the Year came in 1974 when John Marshall wrestling coach Bill Hinegardner and then-Woodsfield High School football coach Jay Circosta were feted. It also happened in 1992 as Cambridge boys’ basketball coach Gene Ford and Cameron wrestling coach Jim Potts were honored. In 2007, Steubenville football coach Reno Saccoccia and Oak Glen wrestling coach Larry Shaw were the recipients. Ironically, Stephens shared the award in 2009 with St. John Central girls’ track coach Robert “Bubba” Kapral.

“Obviously, this is a huge award for our program. Like I just said, this is a team award,” Stephens shared. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my assistant coaches and the players. They bought into what we needed to do and we were able to go out and execute it.”

Stephens said playing three games against a team the caliber of Monroe Central was very helpful in the Maroon Knights drive to the W.Va. Class 2A state championship.

“I think those three games really helped us both get to where we wanted to be,” Stephens said. “It’s a testament to what kind of competition there is in the OVAC.”

Wheeling Central finished 24-2, defeating Williamstown, 59-40, in the Charleston Civic Center Coliseum.

In just his second season, Lang and the Seminoles reached the pinnacle when they captured the Ohio Division VI state championship with a 42-35 victory over Marion Local inside the University of Dayton Arena.

Monroe Central finished 26-3.

“This is amazing for the program. I’m really thankful to receive this award and I would like to thank the OVAC,” Lang said. “I’m just happy to be able to grow the program at Monroe Central along with my players, coaches and the community. Hopefully we can keep building.”

Other Coach of the Year finalists were Indian Creek’s Mike Cottis, Baseball; University’s Ken Maisel, Wrestling; and Cameron’s Holly Pettit, Girls Basketball.

More than $57,550 was presented in scholarships to various honorees.

Pat Doyle and Ed Cihy were presented with plaques for OverTime awards.