Sports

MN Basketball Coaches Association Names Novak to Hall of Fame

The Hopkins coach has seen incredible success during his 24 seasons with the Royals.

The Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association has selected Hopkins boys’ basketball coach Ken Novak Jr. to be honored in its Hall of Fame, the school district announced Thursday.

Novak has coached the Royals basketball team for 24 seasons, during which time he’s developed Hopkins’ reputation as a basketball powerhouse. Throughout his tenure, the Royals have won 20 Lake Conference titles, double digit section titles and six state championships—including a three-peat over the 2009, 2010, 2011 seasons.

The Minnesota State High School League included him on its list of “the top five coaches in the history of the boys state basketball tournament.” He was also named the ESPN National Coach of the Year in 2011.

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"I have worked with Coach Novak over the past 18 years and I continue to be amazed at his skill as a coach, his knowledge of the game, his passion for the kids, and his ability and willingness to make changes, even after all of the victories and championships,” a news release quoted Dan Johnson, the Hopkins Public Schools athletics and activities director. “He works tirelessly at his craft and is really coaching at a rare level. I am proud of his accomplishments as a coach, but I am more proud to say that he is a good friend of mine."

Novak will be inducted during a ceremony at 2 p.m. Nov. 2 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Minneapolis. He’s one of four coaches who will be inducted.

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His induction follows in the footsteps of his father, Ken Novak Sr. The elder Novak, who was a Hopkins coach from 1954 to 1983, was inducted in 1995.



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