April 8, 2004

FORT WORTH, Texas - TCU head men's basketball coach Neil Dougherty's improbable run to CollegeInsider.com's Fashionable Four was capped off in style, as Dougherty defeated a No. 1 seed for the third time in the tournament and earned the title of the nation's "Best Dressed Coach" for 2004.

With the triumph over Drexel's Bruiser Flint, the 2001 champ, the fourth-seeded Dougherty discarded each of the past three winners. Previously, the TCU coach had upset Rice's Willis Wilson (2002) and Rutgers' Gary Waters (2003). Dougherty, a rookie in the event, earned the No. 4 seed in the Waters Region based on his rating in the Fashion Power Index (FPI).

"What a way to complete a dream run," Dougherty said. "I have to give all the credit to my fashion team. The stylists really came together and peaked at the right time and made it happen. We're going to enjoy this for a couple of days and then it's right back to work. We have a title to defend now."

On Monday, Dougherty downed Wilson in the national semifinals to earn a spot in the championship matchup. It was the first time in the contest's seven-year history that a first-year participant had ever advanced to the final game.Wilson, the top seed in the Wilson Region, has advanced to the Fashionable Four every year since the tourney's inception. In the Sensational Sixteen, Dougherty became the first person to defeat a No. 1 seed in this year's event by outlasting the top-seeded Waters.

The TCU coach also ousted a No. 2 seed, cruising past Dennis Felton of Georgia in the Elegant Eight. Dougherty's run to the Fashionable Four began with a victory over 13th-seeded of Steve Hawkins of Western Michigan in round one. He then defeated Western Illinois' Derek Thomas, the fifth seed, in the second round of the 65-person event.

For the full recap of the championship match, visit www.collegeinsider.com.

-www.gofrogs.com-

FASHION FINAL
No. 4 Neil Dougherty (TCU) def. No. 1 Bruiser Flint (Drexel)