Cilli, Burns recognized by Words Unlimited

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University head women's tennis coach Barbara Cilli and assistant men's basketball coach Chris Burns have been recognized by Words Unlimited as the 2015 Female Coach of the Year and 2015 Story of the Year, respectively, and will be honored for their achievements Sunday, Feb. 28.

Cilli guided the program to its best season since joining the Division I ranks in 2015, leading the Bulldogs to their first-ever Northeast Conference title and DI NCAA tournament berth in her 15th season at the helm. Cilli led Bryant to a magical run through the NEC Championships, as the second-seeded Bulldogs gave up just a single point on their way to the program's first league crown. The title earned the Black and Gold the right to play No. 3 California in the NCAA Championship First Round.

Cilli was rewarded for her team's efforts, earning the first NEC Coach of the Year accolade of her career. She also saw six different Bulldogs earn 12 all-conference nods, as Bryant swept the major year-end awards. Among Cilli's major award winners was NEC Player of the Year Ryan Brown, who went a perfect 3-0 through the Championship at No. 1 singles, and NEC Rookie of the Year Ashanti Campfield, who registered 12 wins in her first collegiate season and was perfect against league competition at No. 5 singles.

Cilli's Bulldogs proved themselves to be just as successful outside of competition, also earning an NCAA Public Recognition Award and boasting six ITA Scholar-Athletes in 2015. Bryant was also voted the women's tennis NEC Sportsmanship Award winner by the rest of the league.

Burns made national headlines in October 2015, when he broke down social and cultural barriers by becoming the first openly gay coach in collegiate men's basketball.

Burns told his story to USA Today and Outsports.com just a month before the start of the 2015-16 season, detailing a lifelong struggle with acceptance. Equally as challenging was the professional struggle he faced every day. How would his truth affect his job, his future in basketball? After years of deliberation, anxiety and internal turmoil – was he a coach or was he a gay man? – Burns decided it was time to be both.

In sharing his truth with the world, Burns has become an inspiration to countless men and women, young and old, inside and outside of college athletics. His story has rallied the support of such greats as Mike Krzyzewski and has been met with resounding positivity and respect.

Now in his fourth season as a member of the Bryant men's basketball staff and third as an assistant coach, Burns continues to help build the Bulldogs into a premiere Division I program in New England. With Burns on the sidelines, the Bulldogs have earned three-straight Northeast Conference Tournament appearances, including the team's first Division I postseason victory in March 2015.

Sunday's 70th annual Words Unlimited Sports Awards Banquet will be held at the West Valley Inn in West Warwick, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person and can be purchased by contacting Words Unlimited President John Parente at 401-826-0555.