Senate Concurrent Resolution 580

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING LLOYD CLARK, WHO COACHED THE DELTA STATE LADY STATESMEN BASKETBALL TEAM TO THREE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, 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 Lloyd Clark of Drew, Mississippi, who coached the Delta State "Lady Statesmen" Basketball Team to three National Championships; and

WHEREAS, Coach Clark lettered one year in football at Drew High School before attending Sunflower Junior College in Moorhead and Delta State; and

WHEREAS, he began his coaching career at Warren Central High in Vicksburg where he led his prep girls to 245 wins and 42 losses in eight seasons with five state tournament appearances and two overall state runner-up finishes; he was named Little Dixie Conference Coach of the Year five times; and

WHEREAS, Coach Clark never played high school or college basketball, but led the Lady Statesmen to seventeen 20-win seasons which included five 30-win campaigns; he coached at Delta State for 19 years from 1983 to 2002 and led the women's hoops teams to a record of 494-98; and

WHEREAS, after Delta State moved to Division 2, the Lady Statesmen won five straight Gulf South Conference titles and compiled a mark of 70-4 during Clark's first four years as Head Coach; and

WHEREAS, he led Delta State to the Division 2 NCAA Women's Basketball Championships in 1989, 1990 and 1991, a total of three National Crowns in four years; he paced Delta State to 16 NCAA Tournament appearances including 11 Elite Eights; he guided the Lady Statesmen to a Gulf South Conference record of 206-38 and the GSC Championship an amazing 12 times; and

WHEREAS, Coach Clark was named Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year on five occasions (1986, 1987, 1993, 2001 and 2002). During his career, he became the winningest coach in school and NCAA Division 2 history passing Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame member Margaret Wade; and

WHEREAS, under Clark, Delta State became the first school to win a national title on its home floor in NCAA history; and

WHEREAS, he coached the Lady Statesmen to a phenomenal home record of 264-22 and was inducted into three separate Delta State Halls of Fame (Hall of Fame in 2002, Alumni Coaches in 2002, and Athletic Hall of Fame); and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this outstanding 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 Coach Lloyd Clark from Drew, Mississippi, who coached the Delta State "Lady Statesmen" Basketball Team to three National Championships, 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 Clark at induction ceremonies, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.