FARMVILLE, Va. – Fresh off a trip to the Big South Championship semifinals for the first time in school history, Longwood head men's basketball coach Jayson Gee was named the recipient of 2015 John Lotz Barnabas Award, presented by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) to the basketball coach who best exhibits a commitment to Christ, integrity, encouragement to others and lives a balanced life.
 
"The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is honored to recognize coach Jayson Gee as the recipient of the 2015 FCA John Lotz Barnabas Award," said Jeff Martin, FCA Executive Vice President of Ministry Programs and Resources. "The award is named after former University of Florida Head Coach John Lotz and is presented by FCA to honor a college basketball coach who best exhibits a commitment to Christ, integrity, encouragement to others and lives a balanced life. Coach Gee exhibits all of these qualities not only as a coach, but as a husband and father. He is a long-time leader and supporter of the FCA ministry."
 
Gee will receive the award in a formal ceremony at the FCA-sponsored National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) coaches luncheon on April 4 during the NCAA Final Four weekend in Indianapolis, Ind.
 
"I am deeply honored and humbled by this acknowledgement from FCA and feel extremely blessed to be recognized in this fashion," said Gee, a 26-year coaching veteran now heading into his third season at Longwood. "As a coach/mentor I run my program with emphasis on five pillars that align our values with that of the FCA's mission. I receive this award as encouragement to continue on the journey of impacting the lives of our student-athletes."
 
"Jayson Gee is a person of immense character and integrity, and he runs his program based on those values," Longwood director of athletics Troy Austin said. "Winning is important, and coach Gee has proven his ability to win, but the biggest impact a coach has is in how he or she aids the growth of a student-athlete off the court. Coach Gee's commitment to developing his players in facets beyond basketball is what makes him special. That the FCA singled him out for this award from a pool of worthy college basketball coaches speaks volumes to his character."
 
Gee wrapped up his second season in Farmville by leading the Lancers (11-23, 5-13 Big South) to three wins in their final four games, including a quarterfinal upset of No. 1 seed Charleston Southern in the Big South Championship. The win propelled Longwood to its first conference semifinal since joining the league in 2012-13 and capped a season in which the Lancers won the most overall and conference games in their three seasons as a member of the Big South.
 
The honor puts Gee among a group of recent Barnabas Award winners that includes Mercer's Bob Hoffman (2014), Indiana's Tom Crean (2013), Northern State's Don Meyer (2012), Texas A&M's Billy Kennedy (2011) and Gee's mentor and former coaching associate, Cleveland State's Gary Waters (2010).
 
Gee is the 13th coach to receive the award, which originated in 2003.
 
John Lotz Barnabas Award Winners
2003      Homer Drew (Valparaiso)
2004      John Wooden (UCLA)
2005      Dale Clayton (Carson-Newman)
2006      Steve Alford (Iowa)
2007      Dale Layer (Colorado State)
2008      Willis Wilson (Rice)
2009      Ritchie McKay (Virginia)
2010      Gary Waters (Cleveland State)
2011      Billy Kennedy (Texas A&M)
2012      Don Meyer (Northern State)
2013      Tom Crean (Indiana)
2014      Bob Hoffman (Mercer)
2015      Jayson Gee (Longwood)

#GoWood