Debbie Ryan Named to Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2008

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July 15, 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Virginia women’s basketball head coach Debbie Ryan has been named to the Class of 2008 for induction into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame announced on Sunday on ABC-TV during halftime of the 2007 WNBA All-Star game.

Joining Ryan in the Class of 2008 are Patty Broderick, Lin Laursen, Jill Rankin-Schneider, Suzie McConnell-Serio, and Michele Timms.

“I am humbled and honored to be named to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame,” Ryan said. “My life has been blessed with tremendous players, coaches, staff members, and administrators over the years who have supported me and share equally in this honor. I am very thankful and fortunate to be able to represent the University of Virginia and my entire family in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. This is a proud moment for all of us.”

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, which held its grand opening and inaugural induction in 1999. When the Class of 2008 is officially inducted in Knoxville, Tenn., on June 13-14, the list of individuals who have been recognized as Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductees will increase to 103. The Class of 2008 will be formally introduced at the 2007 State Farm Tip-Off Classic on November 11 at the University of North Carolina.

Ryan is the fifth inductee to hail from the state of Virginia. She joins Old Dominion All-Americans Nancy Lieberman (induction class of `99) and Anne Donovan (`99), former James Madison coach Betty Jaynes (`02), and former ODU coach Marianne Stanley (`00).

In 2004-05, Ryan became a member of a very elite club. On Dec. 29, she recorded the 600th victory in her career, becoming the 11th women’s coach all-time to achieve 600 wins in her coaching career. She received the WBCA Victory Club Award for her achievements. Ryan stands 651-278 in 30 seasons at Virginia. The mentor among all ACC coaches, Ryan stands 275-134 in ACC games only. Ryan is also the fifth coach in NCAA Division I history to reach the mark with all the wins coming at the same school.

During her tenure, Ryan has led Virginia to 25 postseason appearances, including 21 NCAA Tournament berths. Other measures of Ryan’s success include 12 appearances in the NCAA “Sweet 16”, including 11 straight years (1987-97), three Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament titles, three straight Final Four appearances, the 1990 and 1992 East Regional titles, the 1991 Midwest Regional title, and 11 ACC regular-season crowns.

Ryan was selected as the Naismith Coach of the Year in 1991 by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, and has won the ACC Coach of the Year award seven times. She was named the Converse District III Coach of the Year and 2000 IKON/WBCA District IIICoach of the Year and earned state-wide recognition as the Virginia state Coach of the Year four times.

Ryan gives credit for many of her personal awards to the incredible players who have come through the Virginia program. Ryan has recruited and developed players such as Val Ackerman, Cathy Grimes, Donna Holt, Dawn Staley, Tonya Cardoza, Heather and Heidi Burge, Tammi Reiss, Dena Evans, Wendy Palmer, and Tora Suber. Players under Ryan’s guidance have won 31 All-America honors, 17 Academic All-America honors, six ACC Player of the Year awards, and 58 All-Conference awards. Virginia also has the most three-time All-ACC first team selections (Dawn Staley, Donna Holt, and Wendy Palmer).

In addition to the accomplishments on the court, 100 percent of Virginia players who have completed their four-year eligibility have graduated from the University. Alumni of Ryan’s program have gone on to successful careers in medicine, law, engineering, business, and coaching.

In 2006-07 while guiding the Cavaliers to a 19-15 overall record and a 25th postseason appearance, Ryan received a very special honor from UVa. During halftime of the inaugural game in the John Paul Jones Arena, UVa Director of Athletics Craig Littlepage made a very special announcement before the fans and team alumnae. The women’s locker room would be dubbed the “Debbie Ryan Locker Room” for the Cavalier coach who was in her 30th season at the school.

Ryan is the winningest coach in Atlantic Coast Conference history, having guided her teams to more than 600 victories. Ryan and NC State’s Kay Yow shared the 2007 “Bob Bradley Spirit & Courage Award” for their public display of perseverance and leadership in the fight against cancer while being valuable contributors to their universities.

In 2000, Ryan was faced with her most serious opponent, pancreatic cancer. Ryan underwent surgery to remove a tumor and a series of radiation treatments during the offseason but remained as coach of the Cavaliers in the 2000-01 season. Last year, she celebrated her fifth anniversary of being cancer-free and continues as an active leader in fund-raising events for the University of Virginia Cancer Center.

Debbie Ryan’s Career Milestones

First win	Nov. 28, 1977	Virginia 54, Va. Union 48	Charlottesville, Va.100th win	Nov. 29, 1983	Virginia 72, Duke 58		Durham, N.C.200th win	Dec. 28, 1987	Virginia 78, Miami 69		Miami, Fla.300th win	March 23, 1991	Virginia 85, Lamar 70		Austin, Texas400th win	Jan. 25, 1995	Virginia 82, Maryland 48	College Park, Md.500th win	Feb. 21, 1999	Virginia 73, Fla. State 55	Charlottesville, Va.600th win	Dec. 29, 2004	Virginia 98, J. Madison 52	Charlottesville, Va.650th win	March 19, 2007	Virginia 74, Charlotte 72	Charlottesville, Va.

What They’re Saying About Debbie Ryan

Val Ackerman (Virginia ’81), USA Basketball president
“Debbie has not only brought Virginia’s women’s basketball program to national prominence, but she has been a key contributor to the overall growth of women’s basketball in the U.S. over the past 30 years. She is a remarkable and inspiring leader who has touched many lives, and it’s wonderful to see her many accomplishments recognized with this tremendous and well-deserved honor.”

Jenny Boucek (Virginia ’96), Sacramento Monarchs’ head coach
“Debbie’s obviously a legend in the coaching ranks. Her basketball accomplishments speak for themselves. What I respect the most is how she’s grown as a woman and continued to impact lives more and more. She’s led the way in a lot of ways in regard to equity. That’s a huge thing. Our program led the way. She has fought and continued to fight the battles for what’s right in women’s sports. That speaks so much to her character.”

Beth Dunkenberger, Virginia Tech head coach
“I’m extremely excited for Debbie. It’s a well-deserved honor. She’s done so much for the game of women’s basketball, not only in the state of Virginia but nationwide. I’ve known Debbie since I was about 10-years old, and she’s taught me a lot about the game of basketball. I’m happy for her.”

Mel Greenberg, Philadelphia Inquirer and national women’s basketball sportswriter,
2007 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
“Certainly I’m thrilled to welcome Debbie as a fellow Hall of Fame member. If anyone deserves a place, it’s her. When you think about people she nurtured who are growing the game from Val Ackerman to Dawn Staley to Geno Auriemma to Jenny Boucek, you can see the magnitude of her own impact on the game. It’s not always about just winning championships in this sport. When you consider the way she has battled health issues, Debbie’s already a proven champion.”

Dawn Staley (Virginia ’92), Temple head coach
“So many times in life a coach has really proud moments of their players. Well, I share with every player who had the honor of playing under Debbie’s tutelage how so very proud of the highest honor of her induction. Well deserved.”

Pat Summitt, Tennessee head coach, 2007 National Champions
“The University of Virginia’s Debbie Ryan is a well-deserving candidate for inclusion into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Not only has she been a great contributor to the game of women’s basketball, but she has served as an outstanding role model to her student-athletes. Debbie’s leadership has left her mark on the game and in the lives of her players. Congratulations!”

Debbie Ryan’s
Biography-At-A-Glance
Career/Virginia Record: 651-278 (30 years)
30-win seasons: 2 (1991, 1992)
25-win seasons: 11
20-win seasons: 20
College:
Ursinus College, B.A. in Physical Education, 1975;
University of Virginia, M.A. in Physical Education, 1977

Coaching Experience1977-present Virginia2003 Pan American Games team (silver medal)
2001 U.S. World University Games team(gold medal)
1989 U.S. Junior World Championship team
1988 U.S. Junior National team
1987 U.S. Olympic Festival West team (gold medal)

Coaching Honors
Seven-time ACC Coach of the Year, `84, `85, `87, `91, `93, `95, 2000
Naismith Coach of the Year. 1991
Converse District III Coach of the Year, 1986, 1987
IKON/WBCA District III Coach of the Year, 2000
Virginia state Coach of the Year, 1981, 1995, 2000, 2002
WBCAVictory Club Award for 600 Wins, 2005-06
Bob Bradley Spirit & Courage Award, 2007
Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee, 2008

Team Accomplishments under Debbie Ryan
25 Postseason Tournament Appearances
1980, 1981, 1984-2003, 2005, 2006, 2007
21 NCAA Tournament Appearances
1984-2003, 2005
12 NCAA Sweet Sixteen Appearances
`87, `88, `89, `90, `91, `92, `93, `94, `95, `96, 97, `00
Seven NCAA Final Eight Appearances
`88, `90, `91, `92, 93, `95, `96
Three Final Four Appearances
`90, `91, `92
One NCAA Championship Game Appearance
1991
11 ACC Regular-Season Titles
`84, `86, `87, `88, `91, `92, `93, `94, `95, `96, `00
Three ACC Tournament Titles
`90, `92, `93