CHAPEL HILL - University of North Carolina women's lacrosse assistant coach and director of recruiting Phil Barnes has been named the 2012 NCAA Division I Outstanding Assistant Coach of the Year by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association, the IWLCA announced.  

One of the nation's most experienced assistants, Barnes is in his ninth season on head coach Jenny Levy's staff.  While at Carolina, he has helped lead three NCAA semifinalist squads and six teams that finished the season in the top five of the national polls.

Barnes heads up the Tar Heel recruiting efforts.  On the field, he works directly with the UNC defense and goalkeepers.

Before coming to Carolina prior to the 2005 season, Barnes was the head coach at Massachusetts for three seasons (2000-02) and the College of the Holy Cross (1996-97).

For more information on Barnes' award and the other IWLCA coaching awards for 2012, please click here.