House Concurrent Resolution 61

(As Adopted by House and Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF COACH GWYN YOUNG UPON HIS 900TH WIN AND OVERALL 901-250 RECORD AS THE COPIAH-LINCOLN COMMUNITY COLLEGE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AND HEAD BASKETBALL COACH OF THE LADY WOLVES BASKETBALL TEAM.

WHEREAS, Coach Gwyn Young, the Athletic Director and Head Women's Basketball Coach at Copiah-Lincoln Community College, has exponentially advanced the college's athletic program during his illustrious 40-year career at the institution, and most recently, on January 26, 2017, he achieved yet another milestone on his road of success when the Lady Wolves defeated Meridian Community College 76-70 to give him his 900th career win and to date, overall 901-250 winning record; and

WHEREAS, before he became the coach and athletic director at Copiah-Lincoln Community College, Coach Young was a student and star basketball player for the Wolves team, and to commemorate his immense success at the establishment, the basketball court in Mullen Gymnasium was named in his honor in 2011; and

WHEREAS, Coach Young furthered his academic and athletic success at Mississippi College after his graduation from Copiah-Lincoln, and during his tenure with the Choctaws, he was the Most Valuable Player and team captain on the basketball team and received his bachelor's degree before attending the University of Southern Mississippi to earn his master's degree; and

WHEREAS, over the course of Coach Young's exceptional basketball career at Copiah-Lincoln, his teams have received numerous accolades, including claiming victory at seven NJCAA Region XXIII titles and eight Mississippi Association of Community and Junior College (MACJC) state titles; garnering the second place finish at 10 NJCAA Region XXIII titles; making six NJCAA National Tournament appearances; and not posting a losing record since the 1980-1981 season; and

WHEREAS, Coach Young's incomparable leadership and expertise is evidenced in more than just wins in the record books and over the course of his coaching career, as he has engrained moral integrity and discipline into each of his high caliber athletes, and for his efforts, he has been inducted into the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, the Copiah-Lincoln Hall of Fame, the Mississippi Community and Junior College's Sports Hall of Fame, and the Mississippi Association of Coaches Hall of Fame, and he was named the Region XXIII Coach of the Year in 1989, 1993, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2010 and 2011, the MACJC and MAC Coach of the Year in 1993, 2001, 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2013, and Coach of the Year for Junior Colleges by The Clarion-Ledger several times; and

WHEREAS, the game-changing plays and brilliant strategic mind of Coach Young guided the 1989 Lady Wolves Basketball team to a school best 4th seed in the national tournament, and his former players have signed with 37 different colleges and universities, and to follow in his footsteps, many go on to become coaches themselves; and

WHEREAS, when Coach Young is not occupied molding the minds of the younger generation or drawing up new plays for his basketball teams, he enjoys spending time with family, who has supported him throughout his career, his wife, Velesta, two children, Lane and Jessica, and five grandchildren, Mailey Kate, Reece, Justin, Mary Gwyn and Grant; and

WHEREAS, the legacy of superior play and true sportsmanship forged by the tenacious and undaunted spirit of Coach Young, who has broadened the Copiah-Lincoln players' knowledge of the game and refined their skills in execution, is constantly etched at the forefront of the minds of those who were mentored by him, who worked with him, and others who experienced his greatness as his success at the college continues to amass; and

WHEREAS, Copiah-Lincoln Community College has truly benefitted from the unrivaled skill and competence Coach Young provides to its athletic program, as success overflows from the court and tales of his accomplishments will forever echo throughout the halls and across the bleachers with the beginning of each new season; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and commend the accomplishments of Mississippians who dedicate their lives to the betterment of this state's youth, especially those such as Coach Gwyn Young, who continuously cares for children other than his own and instills in them the qualities and characteristics to become great citizens of this Magnolia State:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the many accomplishments of Coach Gwyn Young upon his 900th win and overall 901-250 record as the Copiah-Lincoln Community College Athletic Director and Head Basketball Coach of the Lady Wolves Basketball Team, and express deepest wishes for continued success in all of his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Coach Gwyn Young and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.