Women’s Basketball Head Coach, Leigh Marshall Coach of the Year
After previously receiving the Coach of the Year award in 2013, 2015, and 2017, Leigh Marshall receives back-to-back Coach of the Year awards for the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference-North. Marshall was brought in by Athletic Director Scott Cathcart to rebuild Palomar's women's basketball program from at one point was at a virtual ground zero, and has since guided the comets to 4 Pacific Coast Athletic Conference North Division championships, three Sweet 16 appearances, two Elite 8 appearances, including a 2017 semifinal appearance, in the state community college playoffs.
Turning this program around is exactly what coach Marshall has done with no thought of looking back. This season, Marshall led the Comets to back-to-back Conference titles going 27-1 on the season. Palomar's only loss came to Mt. San Jacinto in their first meeting on January 17th, but got revenge on the 2nd of February beating MSJC 87-82 dishing them their only loss on the season as well.
The Comets this season looked as good on paper as they did on the court where they had 11 top 5 finishes in different statistical categories. Palomar was 2nd in the state with 2384 points scored on the season earning them another 2nd place finish in points per game with 85.1. They were 5th in field goals made per game with 30.9 and 4th in attempts per game (75.5). The comets led the state in two categories, 3 pointers made per game at 9.9 and assists per game at 20.5. Other top 5 finishes included 3pt attempts per game (31), Offensive rebounds per game (21.5), total rebound per game (49.6), rebound margin per game (15.4), and points per game allowed (51.4).
Coach Marshall guided the Comets to a No.1 seed heading into the post-season where they will draw either Cerritos (17) or Antelope Valley (16) the 24th of February.