NASHVILLE – Middle Tennessee’s Rick Insell and Tennessee’s Rickea Jackson were named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Women’s Basketball Coach and Player of the Year, respectively, for the 2023-24 season, as announced this week by the organization.
Insell earned the Pat Summitt Coach of the Year award, guiding the Blue Raiders to a 30-5 overall record, including a perfect 16-0 in Conference USA play, winning both the regular season and tournament titles. Middle Tennessee became the fourth team in CUSA history to cap an undefeated conference regular season and the second team in league history to sweep both titles while remaining unbeaten.
The squad put together a 20-game winning streak during the year, holding opponents to 55.5 points per game during the campaign, and posted an average margin of victory of 23.5 points in conference play.
The Blue Raiders reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007, overcoming an 18-point deficit against Louisville in the first round in Baton Rouge, the fourth largest comeback in tournament history. Middle Tennessee led at the half in the second round against LSU before falling to the Tigers.
This marked the 17th season with 20-plus wins in 19 years for Insell leading the Blue Raiders and his second with 30-plus victories.
Jackson averaged 20.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, leading the SEC in scoring with the ninth-best single-season scoring average in UT history to earn First Team All-SEC and Honorable Mention All-America honors. She was a finalist for the Cheryl Miller Award and posted 29.5 points and 9.5 rebounds during two NCAA Tournament games.
The Detroit, Mich., native overcame an early-season leg injury to score in double figures 24 times in 25 games, including 13 contests with 20-plus points and two games with more than 30. She was selected No. 4 overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
Jackson is one of only six Lady Vols to average 20-plus points in a season along with Patricia Roberts (29.9), Chamique Holdsclaw (23.5, 21.3, 20.6), Cindy Brogdon (21.7, 20.1), Candace Parker (21.3) and Bridgette Gordon (20.8, 20.4). Her 19.6 points per game career average at UT ranks fourth all-time behind Roberts (29.9, 1976-77), Brogdon (20.8, 1977-79) and Holdsclaw (20.4, 1995-99) and just ahead of Parker (19.4).