House Resolution 12

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MS. KAY JAMES AND CONGRATULATING HER ON INDUCTION INTO THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI LEGENDS CLUB.

WHEREAS, Ms. Kay James, retired and famed University of Southern Mississippi's (USM) all-time winningest head coach, with a record of 403-224, will be inducted into the university's Legends Club on January 24, 2003; and

WHEREAS, ranking in the top twenty-five of all-time Division I coaches in victories, seasons coached and games coached, Ms. James is one of forty-six coaches with 400-plus victories in National College Athletic Association Division I history; and

WHEREAS, during her reign as head coach of the Lady Eagles, Ms. James led USM to ten post-season appearances, captured four conference tournament titles, three regular-season titles, coached sixteen All-Conference performers, four Conference of the Year selections, and one Kodak All-American; and

WHEREAS, Ms. James led the 1993-94 team of Lady Eagles to an impressive 26-5 record, a second conference title, and earned a Top 20 ranking in the 16th position, the highest ranking ever; and

WHEREAS, Ms. James, a four-time Conference Coach of the Year honoree, coached with the United States Basketball team with the U.S. Olympic Festival in 1989, and again in 1992, for the Women's Select Team that won the gold medal in the R. William Jones Cup in Taipei, Taiwan; and

WHEREAS, with twenty-seven years of coaching experience, twenty-two of which were spent at USM, Ms. James coached with the 1995 USA Basketball World University Games women's team that won a silver medal, and again in 1996, with Rene Portland of Penn State and the USA Women's Junior World Championship silver medal team; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives of the State of Mississippi, to recognize and commend excellence, especially when exhibited by such outstanding Mississippians as Ms. James, whose contribution to the University of Southern Mississippi has brought great pride to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Ms. Kay James on her accomplishment and recent induction into the University of Southern Mississippi Legends Club.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Ms. Kay James, the University of Southern Mississippi Athletic Media Relations Center and members of the Capitol Press Corps.