ATLANTA ( April 1, 2005) Former college basketball coaches Leon Barmore and Everett Case are this years recipients of the Naismith Womens and Mens Outstanding Contribution to Basketball Awards presented by Saint Josephs Hospital, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today. Created in 1982, the Awards pay tribute to the individuals who have made a significant impact on mens and womens college basketball.
These men are truly legends in college basketball, said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Tipoff Club president. They have dedicated their lives to coaching and forever affected the game. Honoring them with the Naismith Award is a small representation of the appreciation and recognition they deserve.
Chosen by the Atlanta Tipoff Clubs Selection Committee, Barmore and Case will be honored at the annual Naismith Awards Banquet presented by Delta Air Lines on April 8 at the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel.
Were proud to support the work of the Atlanta Tipoff Club and the Naismith Awards in recognizing young men and women athletes, says Bonnie Phipps, president and CEO of Saint Josephs Hospital. Our physicians work with people of all ages to promote good health and were proud to recognize these fine young people for their athletic achievements.
Leon Barmore, this years Naismith Outstanding Contributor to Womens Basketball, compiled a 576-87 record in 20 seasons as head womens basketball coach at Louisiana Tech. During his career, Barmore became the fastest coach in womens basketball history to reach 500 wins; and, upon his retirement following the 2001-2002 season, Barmores .869 winning percentage was the best in womens basketball history. Barmores teams at Louisiana Tech were 303-17 (94.7%) at home and reached five national championship games and nine Final Fours, second-best in womens basketball history. His 1988 team finished with a 32-2 record and brought home the National Championship.
A 1967 graduate of Louisiana Tech, Barmore was named the 1988 Naismith Womens College Basketball Coach of the Year and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Womens Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.
Everett Case, the 2005 Naismith Outstanding Contributor to Mens Basketball, was a coach, promoter and motivator who inspired his players and excited the crowds. In 21 seasons at four different Indiana high schools, Case compiled a 467-124 record and won four Indiana state championships. As the head coach at N.C. State for 18 seasons, Case compiled a 376-133 record, won six straight Southern Conference titles, four Atlantic Coast Conference crowns and seven Dixie Classics. Case was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in 1981.
Case, a three-time ACC coach of the year, instituted the use of a scoreboard time clock and was the first coach to have his players introduced by spotlight to the crowd before home games at Frank Thompson Gym and N.C. States Reynolds Coliseum. Case is also credited with starting the tradition of cutting down championship nets, which he did after winning his first Southern Conference championship in 1947.