New York, N.Y. – ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas was presented with the 2019 Johnny Bach Award last Sunday night at the Fordham Tipoff Dinner held at the Water Club in Manhattan.
 
The night started with Fordham men's basketball head coach Jeff Neubauer and women's head coach Stephanie Gaitley joining two players from each squad (Antwon Portly and Chuba Ohams for the men and Kendell Heremaia and Kaitlyn Downey for the women) in a Q&A with emcee Jon Rothstein, CBS College Basketball Insider.
 
The Johnny Bach Award honors former Fordham head coach and Hall of Famer, Johnny Bach. The award was established by Fordham to honor an individual who has had a substantial and lasting impact on the sport of basketball and who best emulates Bach's drive and passion for excellence.
 
A member of the Bilas was a four-year starter at Duke from 1982–1986, helping the Blue Devils the 1986 National Championship game. He has served as a color commentator and studio analyst for ESPN since 1995.
 
Former winners of the Johnny Bach Award include Knicks Hall of Fame center Patrick Ewing, the inaugural recipient of the Johnny Bach Award in 2012, Fordham alumnus and accomplished basketball coach and commentator P.J. Carlesimo, Knicks World Champion Phil Jackson, former N.B.A coach Doug Collins, and the late New York Knicks analyst and distinguished alumnus John Andariese.