Region IV to name yearly awards after legendary coaches Don Klaas, Wayne L. King, Jr.

The NJCAA Region IV is proud to announce the renaming of two annual coaching awards in honor of two legendary coaches. From this point forward, the Region IV Men's Basketball Coach of the Year will be named after former College of DuPage coach Don Klaas, while the Region IV Baseball Coach of the Year will be named for former Joliet Junior College coach Wayne L. King, Jr.

Klaas guided the Chaparrals from 1978 to 2013 and posted a 743-382 (.660) record over his 35 years. During his tenure, College of DuPage won a dozen North Central Community College Conference championships and seven Region IV titles, while also taking seven teams to the national tournament. In 2002, Klaas guided the Chaps to the NJCAA Division III National Championship and was named the 2001-02 NJCAA Coach of the Year. A year later, Klaas and the Chaparrals nearly defended their crown with a runner-up finish at the national tournament. The all-time wins leader in NJCAA DIII history is a member of four halls of fame and currently has the College of DuPage basketball court named in his honor.

King led the Wolves for 33 years and registered a 1,127-738-2 (.603) record between 1986 and 2019. The all-time wins leader in NJCAA Division III, picked up three NJCAA DIII National Championships in 1994, 2008, and 2012, while also earning a trio of national runner-up finishes during his 12 total trips to the NJCAA DIII World Series. King, who was also the Joliet Junior College Director of Athletics for 24 years, also claimed 16 Region IV titles and seven North Central Community College Conference crowns. A member of four halls of fame, King also had the baseball field at JJC named in his honor.