Former Gator Coach Carol Ross Honored as SEC Great
Tuesday, March 4, 2008 | Women's Basketball
Former University of Florida women's basketball head coach Carol Ross has been selected to the class of 2008 of the Southeastern Conference Greats program to be honored at the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament from March 6-9 at The Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn.
Ross spent 12 seasons as head coach of the Gators, molding Florida into one of the nation's most competitive and talented programs. Ross announced her retirement on March 22, 2002 and departed as the program's all‑time winningest coach with a 247-121 record from 1990-2002. She was named the 1994 & 2001 SEC Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the 2001 and 2002 Naismith National Coach of the Year award.
While her abilities to recruit and mold young talent is well documented, what Ross did with the Lady Gator program is even more impressive. Putting it gently, before Ross grabbed the Florida reigns, the Lady Gators were a competitive bunch in the mighty SEC, but not too successful. In the 16 total years – and 11 SEC seasons — prior to Carol Ross' arrival in Gainesville, UF won a total of 14 conference games. In 12 seasons under Ross, the Lady Gators notched 84 league wins, including a program-record 11 SEC victories in 2001 alone. UF had never received a bid into the NCAA Tournament before Ross. In her final season, the Lady Gators appeared in their ninth NCAA Tournament in the last 10 years.
The 2008 class includes: Carol Smith, Alabama; Shelley Wallace, Arkansas; Sharon Stewart, Auburn; Carol Ross, Florida; Lisa O'Connor, Georgia; Nancy Napolski Johnson, Kentucky; D'Andre Hill, LSU; Clara Jackson, Ole Miss; Jennifer Fambrough, Mississippi State; Charlotte Hamilton Giese, South Carolina; Shelia Collins, Tennessee; and Karen Booker, Vanderbilt.
Each Great will be introduced during half-time of their team's first game of the tournament and all 12 individuals will also be introduced as a group between games of the second session on Friday, March 7. The Greats will then participate in an autograph session located in the main entrance of the arena before game eight on Friday. Complimentary posters of the Greats will be available at the session.
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