Blue Devil men's basketball team announces annual team awards

MENOMONIE (May 11, 2022) - Lovell Williams, Jon Ciriacks, Drew Scott and TYreese Alexander received team laurels when the UW-Stout men's basketball team recently handed out their annual team awards.

Williams (So, Rogers, Minn) received the Steve Zmyewski Positive Attitude Award, which is awarded to the underclassman player who was the biggest energy giver, motivator, and great teammate throughout the year, said head coach Jim Lake. Williams received the award for the second consecutive year. 

Williams was a first team all-conference selection, scoring a team-best 18.5 points per game - third in the WIAC - and led the conference with 5.3 assists. 
 
Ciriacks (Sr, East Troy) received the Mel Coleman Hard Work and Perseverance Award, which is presented to the upperclassman player who was our hardest worker, who mastered the challenges of being a student-athlete and is held in the utmost esteem by the team. Ciriacks received the award for the second consecutive year. 

Ciriacks wrapped up his five-year Blue Devil career with 1084 total points, 18th on Stout's all-time scoring list. This season Ciriacks averaged 12.1 points per game and stepped outside to hit 38 3-point baskets. Ciriacks was selected to the conference all-defensive team. 
 
Scott (Sr, Prairie du Chien) was presented with the Joe Jax Servanthood Award, which is awarded to any player, manager, or student assistant who has faithfully served the team before himself or herself. This person should be the epitome of what a servant leader is at Stout.

Scott finished the 2021-22 season by averaging 8.0 points and 4.9 rebounds before an injury ended his season. Selected to the WIAC All-Sportsmanship team, Scott started all 17 games this season he suited up for.
 
Alexander (Sr, Pontiac, Mich) was honored with the Dewey Mintz Accountability Award, which goes to a player who was someone who was most accountable to the team before themselves. When the coaching staff needed someone, they could count on this person to often step up, Lake added. Alexander received the award for the second consecutive year. 

A transfer to UW-Stout for the 2019-20 season, injury limited Alexander to 17 games this season. He averaged 4.3 points and pulled down 4.4 rebounds. Alexander finished his career by averaging 7.6 points and totaled 382 points across 50 games played. 


Steve Zmyewski Positive Attitude Award - Lovell Williams
Steve Zmyewski was inducted into the UW-Stout Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997 after a terrific career in the mid-1970s. Steve was a rugged rebounder, captain, all-conference, and academic all-conference player. He was known for being a terrific teammate, glue guy, and hustle player on the 1974-75 WIAC Championship team. Steve embodies the meaning of a Positive Attitude and we are happy to have him represent our first Blue Devil Excellence pillar Positive Attitude.
 
Mel Coleman Hard Work & Perseverance Award - Jon Ciriacks
Mel Coleman was inducted into the UW-Stout Athletic Hall of Fame as a charter member in 1978 and the WIAC Hall of Fame in 2018 after a tremendous All-American career in the late 1960s. Mel never played high school basketball and came to Menomonie in the mid-60s as a 16-year-old. He worked his way into the greatest player in Stout History and First Team NAIA All-American. Coleman is the lone UW-Stout All-American and he was drafted by teams in both the NBA and ABA. Mel earned two degrees at Stout and we are happy to have him represent our second Blue Devil Excellence pillar Hard Work. Coleman passed away in March 2021.
 
Joe Jax Servanthood Award - Drew Scott
Joe Jax has served this program since he became an assistant for Dwain Mintz in the mid-1960s. The two of them built a powerhouse at Stout and Joe takes none of the credit. A selfless leader, Joe would direct the UW-Stout Library Learning Center while continuing to assist the basketball team. A lover of Stout and Stout Athletics – Joe continues to be a servant to the program and has helped link the coaching staff to the Mintz era and beyond.
 
Dewey Mintz Accountability Award - TYreese Alexander
Dwain "Dewey' Mintz coached at Stout for 27 years. Inducted into the UW-Stout Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989 and into the WIAC Hall of Fame in 2015. Coach Mintz won 385 of his 551 career wins while coaching at Stout. Known as a fierce competitor and a brilliant tactician, Mintz held his players to the highest standard of excellence and accountability.