Shane Flanagan moved from New Mexico, where he had been a women’s basketball assistant coach at Div. I New Mexico, to take on the challenge of heading up the Haskell Indian Nations University program.

Four seasons into the job, Flanagan and his players have been rewarded for their efforts. Flanagan was named Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference coach of the year and senior point guard Jenine Coriz of Santa Fe, New Mexico was named first-team all-conference and defensive player of the year.

Slowed of late by losing three rotation players, Haskell takes a 20-8 record into the MCAC North tournament at College of St. Mary’s in Omaha, Neb., and faces York in a first-round game today at 2 p.m. The winner advances to a Saturday game in Omaha that will determine the North division’s representative in a title game that will be played at the higher seed’s home court Tuesday.

Haskell senior Jenine Coriz, left, slips past St. Ambrose junior Jessica Mlachnik as she drives to the hoop during the first half of their game Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014, at Coffin Complex.

Coriz, who recently had a 32-point game, leads Haskell with 15.5 points, 4.2 assists and 3.4 steals per game.

“She knows everything that we’re doing,” Flanagan said. “She’s really become a coach on the floor. This year’s been fun. I’ve really seen her mature and see the game for what it is. She’s really kind of become a coach on the floor.”

Sophomore center Keli Warrior of White Eagle, Oklahoma averages 12.8 points and 6.8 rebounds a game.

“I feel like we could have been in the top 25, but a lot of that has to do with changing people’s opinions about Haskell,” Flanagan said of the NAIA Div. II national poll.

“I’ve had a lot of coaches come up to me this year telling me we should be rated in the top 25. You have to change people’s opinions and that doesn’t happen overnight.”

Flanagan said the increased attention the team has received is a sign perceptions are changing.

“We’ve been on the cover of a couple of Native American magazines,” Flanagan said. “We’ve gotten a lot more attention and these girls have earned that. They show up every day and work hard. They’re positive kids.”

A previous version of this story misspelled Jenine Coriz’s name.