Paul Laurence Dunbar’s Erik Daniels among region coach of the year honorees
Paul Laurence Dunbar’s Erik Daniels, Western Hills’ Jana Hughes and Madison Central’s Allen Feldhaus Jr. have been selected as 11th Region coaches of the year by the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches.
They were among the 36 girls and boys coach honorees named Monday by the KABC, which on Friday unveiled its list of region players of the year, who are also this year’s nominees for Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball and Miss Basketball.
Dunbar’s Daniels shared 11th Region girls honors with Western Hills’ Hughes. Each is enjoying their best season in charge of their programs.
The Bulldogs are 21-4 entering 43rd District Tournament play this week as the top seed in the field.
Daniels, a former University of Kentucky men’s basketball standout, took over the Dunbar program in 2022 after a stint at Woodford County. Plagued by injuries last season, Dubar has its first winning season since 2021.
Hughes also took over Western Hills’ program in 2022. She has led the Wolverines to an 18-10 regular season record and a No. 2 seed in this week’s 41st District Tournament behind county-school-district rival Franklin County.
Feldhaus, one of the winningest boys high school coaches of all time who led Madison Central to the 2013 Boys’ Sweet 16 state championship, has one of the 11th Region favorites to contend for a state crown this year.
The Indians entered the postseason with a record of 27-3 and knocked off Kentucky Media Elite 16 poll No. 1 Covington Catholic at home in Richmond on Friday to cap the regular season.
Madison Central also features KABC 11th Region player of the year Jake Feldhaus, a 6-8 senior Belmont commit and the coach’s nephew.
2026 KABC Boys Coaches of the Year
1st Region: Collin Doss, Murray
2nd Region: Tyler Smithhart, Henderson County
3rd Region: Matt Brigance, Ohio County and Nathan West, Whitesville Trinity
4th Region: Will McCoy, Greenwood
5th Region: Paul Childress, LaRue County
6th Region: Richard Duncan, Jeffersontown
7th Region: Leroy Hickerson, Seneca
8th Region: David Levitch, North Oldham
9th Region: Jake Thelen, Covington Catholic
10th Region: Spencer Morris, Nicholas County
11th Region: Allen Feldhaus Jr., Madison Central
12th Region: Ryan Young, Somerset
13th Region: Eric Swords, Whitley County
14th Region: Camron Turner, Breathitt County
15th Region: Brent Perry, Belfry
16th Region: Cole Brammer, East Carter
2026 KABC Girls Coaches of the Year
1st Region: Kirsten Collins, Calloway County
2nd Region: Ricky Baker, Lyon County
3rd Region: Natalie Payne, Daviess County
4th Region: Piper Lindsey, Barren County
5th Region: Ashley Buckman, Bardstown and Kyvin Goodin-Rogers, Campbellsville
6th Region: Stephanie Troutman, Bullitt Central
7th Region: Donna Moir, Sacred Heart
8th Region: John Howie, Spencer County
9th Region: Ted Arlinghaus, Holy Cross (Covington)
10th Region: Davey Johnson, Campbell County
11th Region: Erik Daniels, Paul Laurence Dunbar and Jana Hughes, Western Hills
12th Region: Brian Britt, Boyle County
13th Region: David Teague, Bell County and Tod Windlan, South Laurel
14th Region: Andrew Blank, Buckhorn
15th Region: Denise Campbell, Pikeville
16th Region: Matthew Clark, East Carter
This story was originally published February 23, 2026 at 1:05 PM.
