April 1, 2003
Coach Orlando “Tubby” Smith at University of Kentucky and Coach Gail Goestenkors from Duke University have been selected the 2003 Naismith College Basketball Coaches of the Year, it was announced today by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.
In addition to the Coaches of the Year, the Atlanta Tipoff Club named T.J. Ford and Diana Taurasi as the Naismith College Players of the Year. It was also announced earlier in March that Charles “Lefty” Driesell was named Men’s Outstanding Contributor to Basketball and Betty Jaynes as the Women’s Outstanding Contributor to Basketball.
Tubby Smith
, in his sixth season at Kentucky, has established the nation’s longest win streak in seven years. Smith is part of an elite group of people, including Roy Williams, Jim Boeheim, and Nolan Richardson, who have won 250 games in 11 seasons or less. He led University of Kentucky to the national title in his first year as head coach, becoming only the second coach to ever win a national title in their first year. He revived the basketball programs at Tulsa and Georgia before heading up the Wildcats. He and wife, Donna, are very active in the community. The Tubby Smith Foundation, established to assist under privileged children, has raised over $1.5 million in the past five years. Tubby coached the Wildcats to the 2003 NCAA Elite Eight with a 32-4 season record.
Gail Goestenkors, has completely turned around the Duke’s Women’s Basketball program in the 11 years she has coached the Blue Devils. She took over with only one full-time assistant and a $10,000 recruiting budget. Her dedication and hard work have now awarded her with one of the top teams in the nation. Goestenkors has led the Blue Devils to four consecutive ACC Tournament Championships (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003), nine consecutive NCAA bids, and their first NCAA Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, and Final Four berths. Known as “Coach G” to players and fans, she is the third quickest ACC Coach to earn her 200th victory. Her 2002 team became the first ACC school to produce an undefeated record by winning the regular season and Tournament titles. Goestenkors has also led the 2002-03 Blue Devils to an ACC record 34 victories this season.
The Coca-Cola Company is the presenting sponsor of the Naismith College Basketball Awards for 2003. The entitlement complements the Company’s new 11-year NCAA partnership as a Corporate Champion.
“We are proud to be associated with the most coveted award in college basketball and such an outstanding organization,” said Chuck Fruit, senior vice president, worldwide media and alliances, The Coca-Cola Company. “Coca-Cola has always been a strong supporter of collegiate athletics. Having the opportunity to participate in recognizing outstanding basketball achievement is a natural extension of the values we share with the Atlanta Tipoff Club.”
The Coca-Cola Company is the world’s largest beverage company and is the leading producer and marketer of soft drinks. Along with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world’s best-known brand, The Coca-Cola Company markets four of the world’s top five soft drink brands, including diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite. Through the world’s largest distribution system, consumers in nearly 200 countries enjoy The Coca-Cola Company’s products at a rate of more than 1 billion servings each day.
The Naismith Awards, in their 35th year, are given in honor of the inventor of the game of basketball-Dr. James Naismith. The awards program was founded by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, an organization dedicated to recognizing the achievements of student-athletes in basketball. The Awards, including Men’s and Women’s College Player of the Year, Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year, Male and Female Prep Player of the Year and Men’s and Women’s Official of the Year, are determined by a vote of the Naismith Board of Selectors. In addition, the Board of Selectors, comprised of a select group of leading basketball coaches, journalists and administrators, honors a Men’s and Women’s Outstanding Contributor to Basketball.
The Atlanta Tipoff Club was founded in 1956 as a way for Atlantans to share in a common bond – the love and enjoyment of college basketball. It has a two-fold mission: to promote continued support for the game of bas?ketball and to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting.
For more information, go to www.naismithawards.com.
