Kay Yow
Encyclopedia
Sandra Kay Yow was an American
basketball
coach. She was the head coach of the NC State Wolfpack women's basketball
team from 1975 to 2009. A member of the Naismith Hall of Fame, she had more than 700 career wins. She also coached the U.S. women's basketball team to an Olympic gold medal in 1988 despite having been diagnosed with breast cancer
in 1987. In April 2010, CollegeInsider.com created a new award called the Kay Yow National Coach of the Year Award in her honor. It will be presented annually to the women's college basketball head coach who displays great personal character on and off the court.
degree in English from East Carolina University
in 1964. After graduation she worked as English teacher, librarian and girls' basketball coach at Allen Jay High School in High Point, North Carolina
. She then earned her Master's degree
in Physical Education
from the UNC-Greensboro
in 1970 and then took the position of women's athletics coordinator and women's basketball coach at Elon College
.
In 1975, Yow became NC State
's first full-time women's basketball coach and also coached women's volleyball and softball. She led the women's basketball team to an ACC championship in the first season of league play in 1978.
On January 11, 2001, she reached the 600-win milestone for her career with a 71–64 win over Temple University
. On February 5, 2007, she reached the 700-win milestone for her career with a 68–51 win over Florida State University
. At the time of her death, she ranked as the fifth winningest active NCAA
Division I women's basketball coach. In recognition for her dedication and success, Yow was selected for induction into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
in 2000 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on June 5, 2002, the fifth female coach to be selected. On February 16, 2007 the basketball court at Reynolds Coliseum
was renamed Kay Yow Court at Reynolds Coliseum in her honor. On July 11, 2007, Yow received the inaugural Jimmy V ESPY Award for Perseverance, an award named for fellow NC State basketball coach and friend Jim Valvano
. She received a standing ovation.
Yow also coached the silver-medal-winning U.S. women's basketball team in the 1981 World University Games; the 1986 gold-winning U.S. teams in the Goodwill Games and the FIBA World Championship; and the gold-medal-winning U.S. women's basketball team in the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
is the Athletic Director at North Carolina State University
, and Susan Yow coached women's basketball at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington
, Kansas State University
, Drake University
, East Tennessee State University
, Providence College
, and Belmont Abbey College
. Susan Yow was in her second season as head coach at Belmont Abbey College. Susan has also served as an assistant coach to the WNBA
teams, the Charlotte Sting
and the Cleveland Rockers
. In 2006, Susan was named as an assistant coach with the Minnesota Lynx
, but resigned along with head coach Suzie McConnell-Serio on July 23, 2006.
After her 1987 breast cancer diagnosis, Yow became active in raising awareness as well as money to battle the disease. In 2007, the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund was instituted by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and the V Foundation for Cancer Research, of which she served on the board of directors. Her cancer recurred in November 2004 and she began radiation treatments the following month after having surgery.
Yow planned her own funeral before she died and recorded a 25-minute video to be played at the service. More than 1,400 people attended the funeral on January 30 at a suburban Raleigh church, as Yow thanked her supporters on the video. "And now I say farewell," she bade the mourners, "and it's been a wonderful journey, especially since the time I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
coach. She was the head coach of the NC State Wolfpack women's basketball
NC State Wolfpack women's basketball
The NC State Wolfpack women's basketball team is one of the most storied programs in women's college basketball history.-The Early Days :The women's basketball team at NC State had its beginnings in 1974...
team from 1975 to 2009. A member of the Naismith Hall of Fame, she had more than 700 career wins. She also coached the U.S. women's basketball team to an Olympic gold medal in 1988 despite having been diagnosed with breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
in 1987. In April 2010, CollegeInsider.com created a new award called the Kay Yow National Coach of the Year Award in her honor. It will be presented annually to the women's college basketball head coach who displays great personal character on and off the court.
Education and coaching career
Yow received her Bachelor of ScienceBachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in English from East Carolina University
East Carolina University
East Carolina University is a public, coeducational, engaged doctoral/research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Named East Carolina University by statute and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina, the university is the largest institution of higher learning in...
in 1964. After graduation she worked as English teacher, librarian and girls' basketball coach at Allen Jay High School in High Point, North Carolina
High Point, North Carolina
High Point is a city located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina. As of 2010 the city had a total population of 104,371, according to the US Census Bureau. High Point is currently the eighth-largest municipality in North Carolina....
. She then earned her Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Physical Education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
from the UNC-Greensboro
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro , also known as UNC Greensboro, is a public university in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States and is a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina system. The university offers more than 100 undergraduate, 61 master's and 26...
in 1970 and then took the position of women's athletics coordinator and women's basketball coach at Elon College
Elon University
Elon University is a private liberal arts university in Elon, North Carolina, United States. Formerly known as Elon College, it became Elon University on June 1, 2001. The campus is a botanical garden and features oak trees, brick sidewalks, fountains, and lakes...
.
In 1975, Yow became NC State
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
's first full-time women's basketball coach and also coached women's volleyball and softball. She led the women's basketball team to an ACC championship in the first season of league play in 1978.
On January 11, 2001, she reached the 600-win milestone for her career with a 71–64 win over Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
. On February 5, 2007, she reached the 700-win milestone for her career with a 68–51 win over Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
. At the time of her death, she ranked as the fifth winningest active NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division I women's basketball coach. In recognition for her dedication and success, Yow was selected for induction into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame honors men and women who have contributed to the sport of women's basketball. The Hall of Fame opened in 1999 in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA...
in 2000 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on June 5, 2002, the fifth female coach to be selected. On February 16, 2007 the basketball court at Reynolds Coliseum
Reynolds Coliseum
William Neal Reynolds Coliseum is a multi-purpose arena located in Raleigh, North Carolina on the North Carolina State University campus. The arena was built to host a variety of events, including agricultural expositions and NC State basketball games...
was renamed Kay Yow Court at Reynolds Coliseum in her honor. On July 11, 2007, Yow received the inaugural Jimmy V ESPY Award for Perseverance, an award named for fellow NC State basketball coach and friend Jim Valvano
Jim Valvano
James Thomas Anthony "Jim" Valvano , nicknamed Jimmy V, was an American college basketball coach.While the head basketball coach at North Carolina State University, he won the 1983 NCAA Basketball Tournament against high odds...
. She received a standing ovation.
Yow also coached the silver-medal-winning U.S. women's basketball team in the 1981 World University Games; the 1986 gold-winning U.S. teams in the Goodwill Games and the FIBA World Championship; and the gold-medal-winning U.S. women's basketball team in the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
| All-Time College Coaching Record | ||||
| Season | Team | Record | Postseason | AP Poll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971–1972 | Elon | 5-11 | ||
| 1972–1973 | Elon | 13-3 | NCAIAW State Tournament | |
| 1973–1974 | Elon | 20-1 | AIAW Regionals | |
| 1974–1975 | Elon | 19-4 | AIAW Regionals | |
| 1975–1976 | NC State | 19-7 | Women's NIT Quarterfinals | |
| 1976–1977 | NC State | 21-3 | AIAW Region II | 10 |
| 1977–1978 | NC State | 29-5 | AIAW Elite Eight | 3 |
| 1978–1979 | NC State | 27-7 | AIAW Region II | 11 |
| 1979–1980 | NC State | 28-8 | AIAW Sweet 16 | 10 |
| 1980–1981 | NC State | 21-10 | AIAW Sweet 16 | 13 |
| 1981–1982 | NC State | 24-7 | NCAA Sweet 16 | 12 |
| 1982–1983 | NC State | 22-8 | NCAA 1st Round | 16 |
| 1983–1984 | NC State | 23-9 | NCAA Sweet 16 | 16 |
| 1984–1985 | NC State | 25-6 | NCAA Sweet 16 | 12 |
| 1985–1986 | NC State | 18-11 | NCAA 2nd Round | |
| 1986–1987 | NC State | 24-7 | NCAA Sweet 16 | 13 |
| 1987–1988 | NC State | 10-17 | ||
| 1988–1989 | NC State | 24-7 | NCAA Sweet 16 | 13 |
| 1989–1990 | NC State | 25-6 | NCAA Sweet 16 | 11 |
| 1990–1991 | NC State | 27-6 | NCAA Sweet 16 | 7 |
| 1991–1992 | NC State | 16-12 | ||
| 1992–1993 | NC State | 14-13 | ||
| 1993–1994 | NC State | 13-14 | ||
| 1994–1995 | NC State | 21-10 | NCAA Sweet 16 | 24 |
| 1995–1996 | NC State | 20-10 | NCAA 2nd Round | 23 |
| 1996–1997 | NC State | 19-12 | NCAA 1st Round | |
| 1997–1998 | NC State | 25-7 | NCAA Final Four | 10 |
| 1998–1999 | NC State | 17-12 | NCAA 2nd Round | |
| 1999–2000 | NC State | 20-9 | NCAA 1st Round | 23 |
| 2000–2001 | NC State | 22-11 | NCAA Sweet 16 | 19 |
| 2001–2002 | NC State | 14-15 | ||
| 2002–2003 | NC State | 11-17 | ||
| 2003–2004 | NC State | 17-15 | NCAA 1st Round | |
| 2004–2005 | NC State | 21-8 | NCAA 1st Round | 21 |
| 2005–2006 | NC State | 19-12 | NCAA 1st Round | |
| 2006–2007 | NC State | 15-4 | NCAA Sweet 16 | 18 |
| 2007–2008 | NC State | 21-13 | Women's NIT Semifinals | |
| 2008–2009 | NC State | 8-7 | ||
| Overall | 737-344 | .682 | ||
| ACC Regular Season Champion | |
| ACC Tournament Champion | |
| ACC Regular Season and Tournament Champion |
Personal life
Coach Yow and two sisters are natives of Gibsonville, North Carolina. They were all three active in collegiate sports. Deborah YowDeborah Yow
Deborah A. Yow is an American college sports administrator and former college basketball coach. She is currently the director of athletics at North Carolina State University, and formerly held the same position at the University of Maryland and Saint Louis University...
is the Athletic Director at North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
, and Susan Yow coached women's basketball at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
The University of North Carolina at Wilmington, sometimes referred to as UNC Wilmington, is a public, co-educational university located in Wilmington, North Carolina...
, Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
, Drake University
Drake University
Drake University is a private, co-educational university located in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. The institution offers a number of undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and pharmacy. Today, Drake is one of the twenty-five oldest law schools in the country....
, East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University is an accredited American university located in Johnson City, Tennessee. It is part of the Tennessee Board of Regents system of colleges and universities, the nation's sixth largest system of public education, and is the fourth largest university in the state...
, Providence College
Providence College
Providence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic...
, and Belmont Abbey College
Belmont Abbey College
Belmont Abbey College is a private liberal-arts Catholic college located in Belmont, North Carolina, USA west of Uptown Charlotte. It was founded in 1876 by the Benedictine monks of Belmont Abbey...
. Susan Yow was in her second season as head coach at Belmont Abbey College. Susan has also served as an assistant coach to the WNBA
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
teams, the Charlotte Sting
Charlotte Sting
The Charlotte Sting was a Women's National Basketball Association franchise based in Charlotte, North Carolina and it was one of the league's eight original teams. The team folded on January 3, 2007....
and the Cleveland Rockers
Cleveland Rockers
This article is about the defunct WNBA team; for the American Basketball Association team, see Cleveland Rockers .The Cleveland Rockers were a Women's National Basketball Association team that played from 1997 until 2003. The Rockers were one of the original eight franchises of the WNBA, which...
. In 2006, Susan was named as an assistant coach with the Minnesota Lynx
Minnesota Lynx
The Minnesota Lynx are a professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1999 season...
, but resigned along with head coach Suzie McConnell-Serio on July 23, 2006.
After her 1987 breast cancer diagnosis, Yow became active in raising awareness as well as money to battle the disease. In 2007, the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund was instituted by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and the V Foundation for Cancer Research, of which she served on the board of directors. Her cancer recurred in November 2004 and she began radiation treatments the following month after having surgery.
Death
Yow had been on a leave of absence from coaching since early January 2009 because of her disease. She died from stage 4 breast cancer on January 24, 2009. In her obituary, the Charlotte Observer said, "Yow never lost her folksy, easygoing manner and refused to dwell on her health issues, though they colored everything she did almost as much as basketball. Ultimately, her philosophy on both were the same."Yow planned her own funeral before she died and recorded a 25-minute video to be played at the service. More than 1,400 people attended the funeral on January 30 at a suburban Raleigh church, as Yow thanked her supporters on the video. "And now I say farewell," she bade the mourners, "and it's been a wonderful journey, especially since the time I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior".
Awards
- 2007 - Coach Yow received the Mildred "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias Courage Award from the United States Sports AcademyUnited States Sports AcademyThe United States Sports Academy is an accredited, sport-specific institution located in Daphne, Alabama. It offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs as well as certificate programs. Founded in 1972, the Academy has provided its sports programs to more than 60 countries around the...
in recognition of courageous action in overcoming adversity to excel in sport.