WATERVILLE, Maine - The North Atlantic Conference (NAC) released the recipients of their post-season awards for the 2022-23 men's basketball season this afternoon. The University of Maine at Farmington Head Coach Sam Leal '14 has been named the NAC Men's Basketball coach of the year for the 1st time in his coaching career.

Leal is currently in his second season at the helm for the Beavers, after taking over the program in April of 2020 from the legendary coach, Dick Meader '68. In his two seasons as the head coach for the Beavers, Leal has amassed an overall record of 35-15 with a conference record of 21-3. 

Leal becomes the 2nd men's basketball Head Coach in UMaine-Farmington history to receive the NAC Coach of the Year honor as he joins Meader who received the award on four occasions in 2010, 2013, 2017, and 2020.

This season, Leal orchestrated the Beavers to a 17-7 regular season record with a 13-1 record in NAC conference play. The lone conference blemish came on the road in January at the hands of SUNY Delhi. Finishing as the top-overall seed in the conference, Farmington earned the right to host the conference tournament. This past Friday evening, the Beavers began their playoff run with a 78-70 victory over the Northern Vermont University-Lyndon Hornets. The following afternoon, the Beavers took down the University of Maine at Presque Isle 86-74 to claim the NAC East crown.

During conference games to this point in the season, playoff games included, the Beavers have the top offense (88.6 ppg), the top scoring margin (9.2 ppg), the highest field goal percentage (47.9%), the lowest field goal percentage against (40.1%), the most three-point field goals made (151 total), the highest rebounding average (44.1 rpg), and the largest rebounding margin (9.4 rpg). 

The Beavers also hold teams to the 3rd lowest point total in the conference at 72.4 points per game. 

Farmington has put together a phenomenal season, but have had their eyes set on something bigger from the beginning. Their goal from the start of the season has been a NAC Championship. Earning the top-overall seed in the conference was a step in the right direction. Now, Leal has the Beavers on the cusp of just that as they look to put away the heartbreak from prior seasons and get revenge this Saturday against the SUNY Delhi Broncos at 2 pm.