North Carolina State University Athletics
30 Years with Kay Yow
10/1/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Oct. 1, 2004
There is no right place to begin when talking about NC State's head coach Kay Yow. Her accomplishments extend beyond the basketball world, but it is within that world that she has become so accomplished. After 34 years of coaching, Yow has achieved what most coaches dream of. She is one of the most admired and respected coaches on the national and international scenes. Her experience dates back to 1960 when at the tender age of 18, Yow signed on to be the head coach at Allen Jay High School for four seasons followed by one year at Gibsonville High. After five years and a 92-27 record, Yow then moved up to be the head coach at Elon College. In her first collegiate stint, Yow collected a four-year record of 57-19 and won the 1974 state title. From that moment on, Yow was destined to become one of the greatest women's basketball coaches in history.
In 1975, Yow was hired by Willis Casey to be the head coach of the women's basketball program. She was also hired to coach the softball and volleyball teams and was an associate athletics director all while developing women's basketball in its infancy. As a female leader amidst a mostly male coaching staff, Yow took her first squad to the WNIT and completed the season with a 19-7 overall record. Since that first year, Yow has coached some of the nation's most well-known players of all-time, including WNBA all-stars, Andrea Stinson, Chasity Melvin, NC State's all-time leading scorer, Genia Beasley and all-time rebounder and current assistant coach, Trena Trice-Hill. Yow is a pioneer of the sport and continues to be today.
 Kay Yow is in search of her 600th win at NC State in 2004-05.  |
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In her 34 years as a head coach at the college-level, Yow has guided her squads to 17 of the 23 NCAA Tournaments, 10 trips to the Sweet 16, and a trip to the Elite Eight and Final Four in 1998. In her time she has also collected five ACC Championships and four ACC Tournament Championships, amassed 19, 20-win seasons and 25 winning seasons. Her career record of 653-300 is fifth among active coaches in the NCAA and last season she won her 650th game to become the first ACC women's basketball coach to eclipse the special milestone. This season she is on her way to become just the fourth women's basketball coach of all time to win 600 games at the same institution. As one can see her resume is full of unbelievable statistics, but those are just scratching the surface.
NC State head coach Kay Yow is part of an elite group of coaches in the United States. She is one of eight coaches chosen to lead USA Basketball in the pursuit of a gold medal in women's basketball. Yow was an assistant in 1984 and a head coach in 1988. In both years the team captured gold. She has the distinction of being the only coach to win gold twice since the first women's basketball Olympic year in 1976. Yow has lost just one game in 22 games of international competition. Her medal tally has resulted in three golds and one silver. NC State's head coach began her USA basketball career in 1981 with the World University Games. She guided her team to a 4-1 record and a silver medal. In 1986, Yow took her squad to the Goodwill Games and the World Championships. Her team went 5-0 in the Goodwill Games and 7-0 in the World Championships; both resulted in gold medals.
As a head coach of one of the premier conferences in the nation, Yow has now found her way to the top of the Atlantic Coast Conference. When NC State became one of the founding schools of the ACC in 1977-78, Yow was there to set the standard. Since then Yow has accumulated enough wins to become the second winningest coach in ACC women's basketball history with an overall record of 653-300 and 246-135 in ACC games only. She has won more games than any current ACC head coach, 596 total.
Yow's accomplishments have never gone unnoticed. Her recognitions extend from small engagements at local businesses to speaking in front of crowds of thousands. Without coaching her first game at the college level, she became the first female head women's basketball coach in the state of North Carolina. She has been named national Coach of the Year eight times by various organizations, including the John and Nellie Wooden Association, USA Today, Sports Illustrated and the WBCA. NC State's 30-year head coach is a member of six halls of fame, including the Elon College Hall of Fame, Women's Sports Hall of Fame, North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, Fellowship of Christian Athletes Hall of Fame, Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Her awards have led to honors for her players as well. Yow's extensive knowledge and appreciation for the game of basketball has resulted in a multitude of student-athlete recognitions and praises. During her time, 12 former players have gone on to either coach or play with the WNBA. Nine of her players were named to the ACC's 50th Anniversary team, the second most of all the ACC schools. Also, three players were named to the Golden Anniversary team as the top 50 All-Around Female ACC Athletes. Yow has coached 39 All-ACC honorees and 30 All-ACC Tournament players. Two players were named ACC Player of the Year, two ACC Rookies of the Year and four MVPs of the ACC Tournament. Four players have been honored with the esteemed Kodak All-America award. Her players have also represented the United States in international play, including the Jones Cup, USA Select National Team, Olympic Sports Festival, US Junior National Teams, Olympic Trials and the Pan American Games. Academically 72 Wolfpack Women were named to the ACC Honor Roll for registering a 3.0 GPA or better for a full academic year.
Yow is one of the most admired and respected coaches on the national and international scenes. She is a leader, role model, mentor, coach, supporter, community friend and entrepreneur. As for women's basketball history, Yow's name will most certainly be delivered in the same breath as those words forever more. She was there for the implementation of Title IX and first the NCAA Tournament in 1982. Yow has never relented her pursuit to improve the sport of women's basketball despite all of her achievements. The game has been good to her, but more importantly, Yow has been instrumental for the game.
To the fans of Coach Yow and NC State women's basketball, stay tuned to what this season has in store. Yow is once again on pace to grasp another milestone and along the way, there will likely be more.
"I have enjoyed coaching every single year for many years and have had the opportunity to be a part of some exciting moments," said Yow. "Currently, I am focused on my 30th year at NC State and I am really looking forward to what this year will bring!"
