Don’t adjust your watch or question your innate sense of time, we’ve not reached the point where it’s seriously time to start thinking about awards season. But then again, thinking about awards season at any juncture is fun and good.
 
With plenty of season left, and plenty of runway for storylines to emerge, here is where this lone, singular writer has the Coach of the Year sitting on the women’s side of the conference. 
 
The Frontrunner
You have to be the leader in the clubhouse if you’re running downhill toward a perfect record, right? That’s where Aaron Johnston sits, as the Jackrabbits (16-5, 9-0) seem to have their arms around the first undefeated league campaign since they themselves pulled the feat two years ago. 
 
There is, of course, plenty of season left and as dominant as SDSU has been, there have been some close(r) calls. Last week, Omaha went into the locker room at Baxter Arena with a three-point halftime lead, and it’s been just three weeks since St. Thomas put the brakes on SDSU’s offense in St. Paul. Even without the South Dakota yin to the Jackrabbits’ yang from a year ago, there could be pitfalls ahead – trips to North Dakota State and Oral Roberts, especially – but results from the first half of the season would suggest SDSU is poised to run the table. 
 
That alone should put Johnston in the driver seat, even if this team is largely the one that had so much success last season. Still, he had to replace a crucial player in Tylee Irwin and, in a way, Paige Meyer, who is still on her way back to full health and the player she was the majority of last season. That’s in essence replacing two starters, and the Jackrabbits are producing at similar levels to last year offensively and defensively, which includes Johnston overseeing a jump from Haleigh Timmer in her sophomore year. 
 
It’s no shock story, but Johnston seems the heavy favorite to bring home his third straight – and seventh overall – Summit League Coach of the Year award.
 
The Challenger
What would a race be without some intrigue? Jory Collins can certainly provide that as he has NDSU on track for its best season in arguably a decade and a half. 
 
The Bison (13-6, 7-2) have already equaled last year’s league win total, and are currently 49 spots higher in the NET (155) than they were when last season ended. That uptick has come despite the team losing its second-leading scorer (Ryan Cobbins), best post presence (Emily Dietz) and pair of frequent starters in Olivia Skiebel and Reneya Hopkins. 
 
The bevy of newcomers Collins brought in gelled quickly and, despite a late non-conference lull, have sprung back to have the inside track to the No. 2 seed in Sioux Falls. Heaven Hamling has remained excellent, while Elle Evans may be the league’s best freshman and Taylor Brown is among the league’s top transfers. Throw in players like Kristina Ekofo Yomane and Emily Behnke, and the Bison have seen a massive improvement defensively, going from eighth to second in the league in defensive efficiency over last year according to herhoopstats.com. 
 
Upcoming games against South Dakota and North Dakota could prove pivotal when it comes to seeding, and are followed by the massive home date with the Jackrabbits on Feb. 4. Should he and his team navigate that stretch well, the case for Collins as a serious challenger in the COY race could become easier to make. 
 
The Field
Individual awards are great conversation starters, and that should extend to shining a light on coaches they may not ultimately take home the hardware. Kayla Karius has overseen an injury-filled first year to keep USD alive in the conference race, and has continued to shepherd Grace Larkins to stardom. Carrie Banks is at the helm of a revival in Omaha and while her Mavericks are on a two-game skid, still pose a formidable threat. And finally, Kelsi Musick inherited a talented roster, but has amped up the pace, having the Golden Eagles play at the fastest tempo in the country, which has helped develop Hannah Cooper into an elite scorer.