Rochester head coach Bonde named NJCAA DIII Women's Basketball Coach of the Year
Charlotte, NC - After leading the Yellowjackets to its second national title in program history, Rochester's Jason Bonde has been named the 2023 NJCAA Division III Women's Basketball Coach of the Year.
"Coach Bonde has taken the RCTC women's basketball team to new heights during his four years. From his first year when we didn't have a program to a National Championship in 2023. Coach Bonde has built a program where the team comes first and team success leads to individual accolades," Rochester athletic director Mike Lester said.
In Bonde's fourth season at the helm for Rochester, he was able to lead a team featuring two all-America selections to a national championship in 2023. Last season, Bonde's Yellowjackets lost in the semifinal round to eventual champion Owens 66-63. They would finish the national tournament in 2022 with a third-place finish.
Entering the 2023 season, the Yellowjackets came back with fire in their eyes and wanted to finish what they started last season. They finished the regular season undefeated with a 23-0 record and a No. 1 ranking. Battling all the way to the North Plains A District Championship game against Riverland (MN), they suffered their first and only loss on the season.
Rochester entered the 2023 NJCAA DIII Women's Basketball Championship as the No. 3 seed and face the No. 6 seed CC of Rhode Island in the quarterfinal round. After defeating them and Riverland, they face conference rival Minnesota West in the Championship game. After a back-and-forth first half, the Yellowjackets were able to pull away and win the national title. Rochester had an impressive national tournament, winning each of their three games by an average of 18 points.
Bonde's team was one of the best offensive teams in the country statistically and they showed their might on the biggest stage. Four members of the team were named to the All-Tournament Team, and coach Bonde was named the Coach of the Tournament.
"Coach Bonde's teams are a combined 67-8 in three years, including a 16-1 season and Division II Region championship in 2021. The team finished third in the NJCAA DIII title game a year ago before winning the title this year. We are extremely proud of Coach Bonde and his young women for how they have represented RCTC on and off the floor. Congratulations Coach!," Lester said.
