ATLANTA, Ga. – The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) has announced the 2009 RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA Victory Club Award recipients, and Delta State University's Sandra Rushing will be honored this year after eclipsing the 300-win plateau.
The Biloxi native claimed her three-hundredth career win on Nov. 25, 2008 with a 67-54 win over West Alabama at Pruitt Hall in Livingston, Ala.
Over the past four years, coach Sandra Rushing has dominated play in the Gulf South Conference, winning four-straight GSC championships, and racking up an amazing 117-14 record, including 33 straight at Walter Sillers Coliseum. For four-straight years, a conference record, Rushing has been honored as the league's West Division Coach of the Year.
Rushing has potentially turned in her best performance as a coach this season after losing four starters and eight letter-winners off last year's Final Four club, guiding the Lady Statesmen to a 26-6 record, and a fourth-straight GSC title. This week, Rushing and the Lady Statesmen will host the NCAA South Region Tournament at Sillers Coliseum for a second consecutive year. The winner advances to the NCAA Elite Eight with a shot at a national championship.
In her seven seasons at DSU, Rushing has led the Lady Statesmen to a 173-42 record, four GSC titles, five NCAA Tournament appearances, three NCAA “Sweet 16” finishes, an NCAA South Region championship, and last year's Final Four.
In a career that has spanned 19 seasons, Rushing has won 322 games against 289 losses. Prior to coming to DSU, Rushing served as head coach at Texas-El Paso, where she posted a 123-175 record and in 1997-98 was named the Western Athletic Conference Mountain Division Co-Coach of the Year.
The RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA Victory Club Award is presented to each WBCA-member head coach who achieves career wins of 200, 300, 400, 500 or more, in 100 victory increments.
“Whether Russell Athletic is supporting the WBCA or developing the newest, innovative women's team uniform, our company remains steadfast in its' commitment to women's sports," said Catherine Gammon, Sr. Director of Sponsorships, Russell Athletic. “Russell Athletic is proud to honor the WBCA Victory Club award winners. The dedication of these coaches continues to make a difference in the lives of young student-athletes."
Rushing and 56 other accomplished coaches will be recognized during the RUSSELL ATHLETIC/ WBCA National Coach of the Year Luncheon on Monday, April 6, at 1 p.m. in the Hyatt Regency St. Louis Riverfront Grand Ballroom in St. Louis, Mo. This event is part of the WBCA National Convention, held in conjunction with the NCAA® Women's Final Four®.
