Senate Concurrent Resolution 577

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING BILLY CHADWICK, STAR TENNIS PLAYER AND COACH FROM JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, UPON HIS INDUCTION INTO THE MISSISSIPPI SPORTS HALL OF FAME, CLASS OF 2006.

WHEREAS, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame has unveiled its Class of 2006 which features Billy Chadwick from Jackson, Mississippi, star Belhaven College tennis player and tennis coach for the Ole Miss Rebels; and

WHEREAS, Billy Chadwick is a Jackson, Mississippi, native who was a star tennis player at Belhaven College and an acclaimed championship collegiate tennis coach for the Ole Miss Rebels; and

WHEREAS, Billy was a superb high school player at Wingfield High School in Jackson who won Mississippi High School Championships in 1970, was a four-year letterman at Belhaven College from 1970-1974 coached by Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame member, Charlie Rugg; and

WHEREAS, he began his coaching career in 1979 as Head Coach of the Ole Miss Lady Rebels and took over Rebel men's program in 1983; he is one of only seven active NCAA Division 1 coaches to lead a team to the NCAA Tennis Championship Finals; in 26 years as Head Coach of the Ole Miss Tennis Team (longest tenured coach in school history), he has led the Rebel netters to the NCAA Championship Tennis Tournament 14 times, including four appearances in the NCAA Final Four (1995, 1997, 1999 and 2005); and

WHEREAS, he has guided the Rebels to SEC Team Championships on four occasions (1996, 1997, 2004 and 2005); his SEC title totals at Ole Miss rank with Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame members Tom Swayze (4 in baseball) and Johnny Vaught (6 in football); he coached the Rebel netters to a record of 380-193; overall, Chadwick's Ole Miss teams have appeared in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen 11 times, the NCAA Elite Eight 7 times, and the NCAA Final Four 4 times; his netters have won four consecutive SEC Western Division crowns, along with the four SEC titles; and

WHEREAS, Coach Chadwick has coached 44 All-SEC players, 17 All-Americans, 18 Academic All-Americans, 47 NCAA qualifiers, 6 SEC individual champions, 5 players ranked No. 1 in the nation and 3 Rolex Collegiate All-Star team members during the last 15 years at Ole Miss; and

WHEREAS, under Chadwick, Ole Miss has finished the season among the nation's Top 10 college tennis programs 11 times in the last 12 years; and

WHEREAS, Billy was named SEC Coach of the Year in 1996 and 2004 and was inducted into the Belhaven College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this outstanding athlete and coach who has brought honor to his community, his university and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Billy Chadwick, star tennis player and acclaimed tennis coach from Jackson, Mississippi, upon his induction into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2006, and wish him and his family continued success in all their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Chadwick at induction ceremonies, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.