Immortals' J.D. Barnes wins 2021-22 LDC Coach of the Year award

SANTIAGO, February 27, 2022 – Immortals de Cibao head coach J.D. Barnes is the recipient of the LDC FL Trophy as the 2021-22 LDC Coach of the Year, the LDC announced today.

Now honored in his first season as the Immortals’ head coach, Barnes has become the first import coach to be named LDC Coach of the Year in his first season as head coach.

Barnes received 13 first-place votes and earned 51 total points to edge Fenix Santiago head coach Jose Garcia Calcano, who finished in second place with 40 points (5 first-place votes).  The 8-point difference between the first- and second-place finishers marks the biggest margin since the current LDC Coach of the Year voting format was introduced.

With Barnes as head coach, the Immortals finished with the best record in the LDC (7-0) and made the LDC Playoffs for the first time.  The Immortals won all seven games with a average margin of four points. 

The Immortals showed dramatic improvement on defense with Barnes at the helm, leading the LDC in points allowed (94.7) and opponents’ field goal percentage (44.0) and ranking second in defensive rating (107.8).

Under Barnes, Oliver Garcia was named an All-Star for the first time and won the 2021-22 Taco Bell Felipe Lopez MVP Player Award.  In addition, Ameth Gil was an All-Star, 2021 top import Dwight Gentry also.  

Results for the 2021-22 LDC Coach of the Year Award are below.  The balloting was tabulated by the media LaLiga Work.  Complete ballots for each voter will be posted at www.ldcbasket.com after the announcement of all end-of-season awards.