Associated Press<\/p>\n
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) \u2014 Shane Burcar has remained steadfast in his approach, believing accountability and integrity hold the keys to success, on and off the court.<\/p>\n
Validation has come not just in winning, but also in the lives he has shaped in six seasons as Northern Arizona’s coach.<\/p>\n
And if Burcar had any doubts he’s doing it the right way, further confirmation came by being named a finalist for the Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo even be mentioned in that category with some of the guys on that list was \u2014 I don\u2019t want to get emotional about it \u2014 but it was like, \u2018OK, there\u2019s respect NAU<\/a>,\u2019\u201d Burcar said. “It\u2019s a heck of a job and what we\u2019ve done to get that respect means a lot. It\u2019s an individual award, but it\u2019s really a program award.”<\/p>\n Burcar arrived in Flagstaff as an assistant following a 12-year stint as a high school coach and was promoted to interim coach when Jack Murphy left in 2019 to become the associate head coach at his alma mater, Arizona.<\/p>\n Burcar quickly put his imprint on the program, demanding accountability from his players while molding them into not only good players, but people as well. <\/p>\n His method has worked. <\/p>\n NAU has won more games each season he’s been in Flagstaff, and the text messages poured in from newcomers, parents and former players when Burcar was named a finalist for the Prosser award, which honors those who win with integrity on and off the court.<\/p>\n \u201cWinning helps, let’s be honest, but you can do both \u2014 you can be a great person while doing it,\u201d Burcar said. \u201cYou can be hard on guys, you can love them up and still win a bunch of basketball games.\u201d<\/p>\n The Lumberjacks have done just that. <\/p>\n Since Burcar was elevated from interim coach, NAU has increased its win total from six in 2020-21 to 18 last season. The Lumberjacks made it to the postseason for the first time since 2015 last spring by earning an invite to the CBI Tournament, where they lost 85-78 to Queens College in the first round.<\/p>\n \u201cLooking back at our season, I was really happy with our team, the character of our guys,\u201d Burcar said. \u201cWe went to the postseason and it was an invite. It wasn’t like we invited ourselves and I thought we represented NAU well.\u201d<\/p>\n The next step is to keep the momentum climbing in Year 7, but it will be with a new-look roster \u2014 just like nearly every other school in the transfer portal era.<\/p>\n Carson Towt<\/a>, Division I’s rebounding leader last season, and Trent McLaughlin<\/a>, the nation’s second-leading scorer, have moved on, leaving two big holes in the lineup. <\/p>\n NAU returns Ryan Abelman<\/a>, who shot 45% from 3 in conference play, now-healthy guard Oakland Fort<\/a> and shooting guard Diego Campisano<\/a>. Burcar beefed up his roster through the transfer portal, adding longer, more physical post players and former Buffalo point guard Kavon Bradford.<\/p>\n Burcar also added two high school recruits he thinks can have an immediate impact in a world of transfer-dominated rosters.<\/p>\n