A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of sandra kay yow, beloved women's basketball coach at North Carolina state university.
Whereas, Sandra Kay Yow was born on March 14, 1942, in Gibsonville, North Carolina, to Hilton Lee Yow and Elizabeth Cora Scoggins Yow; and
Whereas, Kay Yow earned a bachelor's degree in English, with a minor in Library Science, from East Carolina University in 1964 and a master's degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1971; and
Whereas, Kay Yow began her career at Allen Jay High School in High Point, where she taught English and coached the girls' basketball team; and
Whereas, Kay Yow gained valuable experience as a high school basketball coach during her four years at Allen Jay High School and one year at Gibsonville High School, compiling a winning record of 92‑27; and
Whereas, Kay Yow became the State's first female head coach of a women's basketball team on the collegiate level when she joined the athletic department at Elon College in 1971; and
Whereas, while at Elon College, Kay Yow compiled a record of 57‑19 and led the team to State championships in 1972 and 1974; and
Whereas, Kay Yow was hired by North Carolina State University (NCSU) in 1975 to serve as the coach of the women's basketball, volleyball, and softball teams and as the coordinator of women's sports; and
Whereas, during her 34 years at NCSU, Kay Yow developed an outstanding basketball program that brought great distinction to the University, the State of North Carolina, and women's athletics; and
Whereas, Kay Yow led her teams to five Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) regular season championships and four ACC tournament titles; and
Whereas, Kay Yow took her teams to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament 20 times, making 11 trips to the Sweet 16 and advancing to the 1998 Final Four; and
Whereas, Kay Yow had the distinction of becoming the first women's basketball coach in the ACC to reach 650 career wins and one of six coaches in women's collegiate basketball to compile a record of more than 700 wins; and
Whereas, on December 14, 2008, Kay Yow became one of three Division I coaches to coach 1,000 games at the same school; and
Whereas, Kay Yow compiled an impressive collegiate career record of 737‑344; and
Whereas, Kay Yow also made contributions as a coach on both the national and international levels, including serving as the head coach of the 1988 United States women's basketball team, which won the gold medal during the Olympics in Seoul, Korea, that year, and an assistant coach for the gold‑medal winning teams of the 1979 World University Games, the 1983 Pan American Games, and the 1984 Olympics; and
Whereas, Kay Yow was selected as the National Coach of the Year eight times and received numerous honors and awards for her outstanding contributions to athletics; and
Whereas, Kay Yow was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, the Elon College Sports Hall of Fame, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Hall of Fame, the East Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, and the Guilford County Hall of Fame; and
Whereas, in 2002, Kay Yow was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, becoming one of only five women to have achieved that high honor; and
Whereas, in 2007, NCSU dedicated the basketball court in Reynolds Coliseum as "Kay Yow Court"; and
Whereas, in 2007, Kay Yow was awarded the inaugural Spirit of North Carolina Award, now known as the Kay Yow Spirit of North Carolina Award, and was the State Employees' Awards for Excellence recipient; and
Whereas, Kay Yow was not only a beloved coach, mentor, and teacher, but also a role model to many whom she inspired during her courageous and public fight against cancer; and
Whereas, Kay Yow helped establish the Jimmy V Women's Golf Classic and the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund in partnership with the Jimmy V Foundation to benefit cancer research; and
Whereas, Kay Yow was deeply devoted to her faith, serving as a member of Cary Alliance Church in Cary, North Carolina; and
Whereas, Kay Yow died on January 24, 2009, at the age of 66; and
Whereas, Kay Yow is survived by her brother, Ronnie Yow; sisters, Deborah Ann Yow and Susan Lee Yow; nephews, Jason Andrew Yow, Zachary Lee Yow, and James Dylan Yow; and one great‑niece, Isabelle Kay Yow; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors the memory of Sandra Kay Yow and expresses the appreciation of this State and its citizens for the contributions she made to women's athletics and to the lives of people she touched.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly extends its deepest sympathy to the family of Sandra Kay Yow for the loss of a much loved family member.
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the family of Sandra Kay Yow, NCSU Athletic Director Lee Fowler, and NCSU Chancellor Dr. James L. Oblinger.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.