coach gary blair wife

He would drive me to ball games and couldnt come in and watch (due to NCAA rules), so he would sit in the parking lot and work with what whatever Internet we had around 2000. Postseason invitational champion Those were special years.. Not too many players transfer from Texas A&M. Back then I felt like the girls needed me. The USA team was dominant, winning their games by an average off 33 points per game. Thats when we brought in Johnnie Harris, who did a wonderful job for me. I had to play the Title IX card to get a director of basketball operations. He has also held his "Celebrity Golf Classic" to benefit Special Olympics for over 15 years; recently, the program has raised over $100,000 annually. The joy that bursts out of Gary Blair as he talks about his storied career simply cant be contained. His teams won three state Class 4A championships, in 1977, 1978, and 1980, and finished as the runner-up in 1979 by only two points. An emotional, philosophical and nostalgic Gary Blair formally announced on Thursday that he will retire as Texas A&M's women's basketball coach following the upcoming season. All ex-players and all ex-coaches think we have one more (game) left in us, Blair said. Blair was 65 when he won that title with the Aggies. [6], When head women's basketball coach Marsha Sharp retired from Texas Tech in 2006, Blair got calls from his friends to take over the position. The Blairs own a home in the Traditions development in Bryan that Nan designed. Whether you're walking for exercise or playing pickleballlike my wife does on Monday nights. And you suddenly have these opportunities where women arent having to go play overseas or just walk away. In 2003, Gary was hired from Arkansas to revive the Big 12's worst program in A&M. Weve done a good job of bringing in the right kids with the right parents. GARY BLAIR, head women's basketball coach at Texas A&M University since 2003, led the Aggies to an NCAA national championship in 2011. Texas A&M said nearly 60 of Blair's former assistants or players became head coaches, including six currently at the Division I level: LSU's Kim Mulkey, Texas' Vic Schaefer, Arkansas' Mike Neighbors, Auburn's Johnnie Harris, Georgia Tech's Nell Fortner and Lamar's A'Quonesia Franklin. I'm going to sit down and enjoy watching. You played baseball in college. During his stint at Arkansas, the womens game evolved in a way Blair had always hoped to see. Stroud: Analyzing two pro days, Q&A with Texans chairman Cal McNair on GM, new coach and draft, Entering 2nd season, Jeremy Pea a celeb who doesn't act like one. Todays kids live in the moment. Since being named head coach in 2003, coach Gary Blair has guided Texas A&M into the ranks of the elite. I want to be like R.C.. Hes bald and Ive got a full head of hair, so Im loving it. He was raised in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Dallas. That allowed me to hire Mike, and it was the best hire Ive ever had. Been divorced for about 4 years. Timing is everything in coaching. It took me two weeks to make up my mind. Part of that attraction stems from the old line about absence making the heart grow fonder, considering the last quarter of their 32-year marriage has been spent separated by what Nan dubs "nine hours and 15 minutes" of asphalt. Then I give them responsibility and let them work. Those misses included big names like Brittney Griner, who went to Baylor, and Nneka Ogwumike, who played at Stanford. The games and wins, sure. Who was No. [7] He was initially the boy's P.E. It will be nearly impossible for Texas A&M to replace women's basketball coach Gary Blair, who announced Thursday that he will retire at the end of the 2021-22 season. South Oak Cliff had just started its women's basketball program, and Blair became the team's first coach in 1973. You know, you just remember all those wonderful things, he said. He led the Aggies to the NCAA national championship in 2011. "His decades-long championship-caliber coaching acumen and recruiting ability has transcended many generations of women's basketball players and his impact will be felt long after he hangs up the whistle.". He was previously head women's basketball coach at the University of Arkansas and Stephen F. Austin State University. Title IX came in 1972, and schools had to put womens athletics in larger cities, whereas before they had only existed in small towns. I want to be known in this community as more than just a basketball coach, and people appreciate that. He published his autobiography, A Coaching Life, last year. I remember thinking that I wished I could somehow stop time., GARY BLAIR, head womens basketball coach at Texas A&M University since 2003, led the Aggies to an NCAA national championship in 2011. Texas A&M to name court in honor of retiring women's basketball coach He is listed in the top 35 of the all-time winningest NCAA Division I women's basketball coaches, and he is one of the few coaches to guide three different schools to national rankings and NCAA Tournament berths. I was used to that for 50 years, but now, it's a little bit different. They asked for volunteers to coach (girls) basketball (at South Oak Cliff), and the girls next door asked me if Id coach. Nan drove in from Fayetteville on Friday night in time for the Aggies' first-round NCAA Tournament game against Albany starting 5:35 p.m. Saturday in Reed Arena. Blair is well-known and well-liked throughout the SEC. Last: How long do you want to ignore this user? Brent was named national beat writer of the year by the Football Writers Association of America for 2021, the first Texan to earn the honor, but hes most proud on the sports front of earning Dayton Invitational Basketball Tournament MVP honors in 1988. "She doesn't have a job and I don't have a job," Gary said. Save on AeroGarden indoor herb growing kits at Amazon, Create a bonsai tree out of bricks with this $40 LEGO set, Preorder 'The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom' today, Astros vs Phillies: How to get tickets and free swag this weekend, There are a ton of great patio furniture sets on sale right now. He still talks to others from those teams frequently. Request a review copy, Professors: A&M's Blair, Arkansas-based wife make marriage work. I'm trying to adjust. Im not playing kids just to keep them from transferring. Texas A&M women's basketball coach Gary Blair will retire at season's end That team, that year, Blair said. The numbers speak for themselves. As older coaches, we have to change with todays kids. Gary Blair Court at Reed Arena will be officially dedicated during a pregame ceremony on Feb. 24 when the Aggies face South Carolina. In 1985, he landed his first college head coaching job at Stephen F. Austin. Every game is a Super Bowl to me.. 1 and No. Its really something.. The team, unranked in the national polls, received a No. Hes helped me a lot off the court, too.. He was 239-18 at South Oak Cliff. It's good to be back. Before anyone wanted him on a field, though, a group of young ladies needed him on a court. Head Coach. I was the head coach for basketball, volleyball, track and cross country for eight years, and I loved it. "Skinny," Nan said, chuckling, of the man who would later lead Texas A&M to a national title thanks in part to his recruiting acumen. This season's basketball fortunes a tale of two Texas A&Ms For me, hes been almost like a grandfather, she said. The key to keeping a good sense of humor through this long stroll called life? You could tell Cheryl was the next coming. [12] In his first season with Texas A&M, Blair worked very hard to attract fans to the women's basketball games, and by the end of the season attendance had increased 71 percent over the previous year, the best increase in the Big 12 Conference. 978-1-62349-536-7 Cloth I had to put silk flowers in the urinals at away games because we always had to use the boys locker room as visitors. He began his career as an assistant at Louisiana Tech between 1980-85 as the Lady Techsters won two national titles, including the first NCAA women's basketball tournament in 1982 season. Blair stated, "It wasnt the right fit or the right time. Somebody that might be better than me can get the job done better. Brent met his wife, KBTX-TV news anchor Crystal Galny, in the Dixie Chicken before an A&M-Texas Tech football game in 2002, and the couple has three . Ive had such a great career, he said. Texas A&M women's basketball coach Gary Blair to retire at end of season She's a great manager of people, and I think I've done a pretty good job of managing people, too.". Exam copy availability, 2023 Texas A&M University Press | Orders: 800-826-8911 | John H. Lindsey Building, Lewis St. | College Station, Texas 77843-4354. Texas A&M coach Gary Blair, right, and his wife, Nan, make a long-distance relationship work. [3], Blair made history with his 19971998 team. Coach Gary Blair and the A&M women are ranked No. [3], Blair's first head coaching experience at the collegiate level came at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas. After his tour, he lived in the Los Angeles area, running a restaurant in Costa Mesa and Culver City. That will be enough., Its time to go do the other things in life. When R.C. [14], Following their successful season, Blair was named the Women's Basketball News Service National Coach of the Year. How can you be No. "We both have careers. When theyre young we do a lot of individual practices to keep improving their skill level. We finished third, first, first, second and first. Flash02. The coming season will almost certainly include. Brent Zwerneman is a staff writer for the Houston Chronicle covering Texas A&M athletics. The sport was narrowly on his radar in 1972 when he was a PE teacher at South Oak Cliff in Dallas. . He was a good kid, and he grew eight inches after high school. All the other men coached boys basketball and football. You think of all the people over the years, he said. Texas A&M Women's Basketball Coaching Staff | TexAgs He was also interviewing for the New Mexico State job, which he didnt want to take. As for life after coaching, Blair said quality time with his family is at the top of his list. I wait for people to screw up and then go in on the white horse and resurrect the program. Our fans were getting restless, he offered in his typical bemused delivery. Where is this coming from?, We understand. Shelby Metcalf, who coached the men's team for 27 seasons, is the school's winningest coach. Sport makes us better. [17], On April 3, 2011, the Aggies defeated top-seeded Stanford 6362 to advance to the national title game. In the NCAA tournament, the team lost to eventual national champion Tennessee. "This little, good-looking redhead walked by," Blair said. Gary Blair Announces Retirement at End of Season I do not miss that, but I miss the evaluations. Why now? During his first season, the Lady Razorbacks won 15 of their 29 games, their first winning season in several years. We were in Okinawa when everyone was trying to pull troops back. [3] Blair was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013 and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023. The Make or Break For Jimbo's Tenure, Cromartie taking shots at the coaching staff. I lived for that. Blair is a member of seven halls of fame, including the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. got fired (in 2002) he could have went to LSU, Baylor, Houston or a lot of other places. He handled the defense, and it was the first time Id really turned over the defense to an assistant coach. An emotional, philosophical and nostalgic Gary Blairformally announced on Thursday that he will retire as Texas A&Ms womens basketball coach following the upcoming season. Be humble, or youll stumble, Blair said. [21], Blair has received the following honors over his coaching career:[22], Blair was inducted in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in June 2013. Brent met his wife, KBTX . I flunked out of architecture, which didnt make me eligible for baseball. Gary Blair provides an update on retirement and life after basketball. Tennessee coach Kellie Harper and Texas A&M coach Gary Blair meet after an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Scott Keller/The Daily Times via AP) Prairie View A&M wants to leave the Texas A&M University System. Blair did the impossible. Women's college basketball succession plan -- Who's got next at - ESPN Senior captain Jordan Nixon admitted she was caught off guard when Blair informed the team this would be his final season. I left the high school game in 1980 when Barmore and Hogg called me up. 9 Replies | After this season his 50th coaching Blair will retire and leave a stamp the size of Texas on the game of basketball. His teams reached the semifinals in the SEC tournament in both 2001 and 2002.[3]. According to Brown-McCoy, most of the girls had never traveled outside of the Dallas area. I love it enough. Barbara Brown McCoy went on to be a standout guard at Stephen F. Austin before going into high school coaching herself. "Having my name on that beautiful floor is a humbling experience. Whether youre shopping Way Day 2023 or Walmart, theres an al fresco set for you. Texas A&M's Gary Blair Texas associate head coach Johnnie Harris has worked alongside Vic Schaefer since 2007. Baseball was my best sport I starred but I was 120 pounds even though I worked out, and I never got a double my whole high school career. Im very honest with the kids and their parents: when you earn your playing time, you will get your playing time. Hed built a program from scratch and helped bring visibility to girls basketball in the state. COLLEGE STATION Shelby Metcalf once explained why he had no problem recruiting to a then-all-male military institute in Texas A&M in the early 1960s. Relationships like that make it difficult for Blair to walk away. Blair, who began his career in 1980 as an assistant at Louisiana Tech, is a member of seven halls of fame, including the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. [3], It was during his time at SFA that Blair met his future assistant coach Vic Schaefer, who was coaching the Sam Houston State Bearkats (one of SFA's main rivals) at the time. Hes eager for that final year of competition. All rights reserved. I miss talking about the game I watched the other night. The eternally quippable Metcalf, Lemons and Garrido all have since passed on to that coaches comedy club in the clouds, but theres at least one old-school coach in the region still owning the fastest facetiousness in Texas. Its time to sit up in the stands and do what you dosecond guess the coaches.. I knew him from Sam Houston State when I was at Stephen F. He was making $44,000 at Sam Houston and I brought him in at $55,000. A member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, the 76-year-old Blair has a career record of 838-333in 36 seasons at Stephen F. Austin, Arkansas and Texas A&M. "When they're together, you can just tell how much they care about each other," A&M guard Sydney Carter said. Leon Barmore was the Bobby Knight of womens basketball. 2:28p, 3/5/20. None of the big six major cities in Texas had womens athletics before Title IX. And a volleyball coach, and a track coach. See our updatedPrivacy Policyto find out more about cookies and how we use your data. Blair, with a slight grin, also realized the game in the Erwin Center offers the chance for a jab at A&Ms (still) biggest rival and new Longhorns coach Vic Schaefer, his former top assistant at A&M. Blair is one of only three all-time DI women's basketball coaches to lead two different teams to the Final Four, and is one of eight coaches to lead three different teams to the NCAA Tournament. The Aggies (22-10) are a third seed in the NCAA Tournament, and a favorite to emerge from the first two rounds in College Station and wind up in the Sweet 16 in Raleigh, N.C. Social media is now as important as the three-point line. I had to have someone with me who could build the program up and I needed someone I could trust. Early in his high school career, he was the most average guy that you had ever seen. He announced in October that this would be his final season after 19 seasons at Texas A&M. He netted a national APSE second-place finish for breaking the Dennis Franchione secret newsletter scandal in 2007, and his coverage of Texas A&Ms move to the SEC from the Big 12 also netted a third-place finish nationally in 2012. She was a nurse at Parkland Memorial who was moving into The Square apartments - Gary's longtime stomping grounds - in Dallas. [7][18], Gary Blair was also selected as a 2012 namesake for Texas A&M's extended orientation camp, "Fish Camp". I THINK she heads up the Arky nursing school. During his last six seasons, his teams were consistently ranked in the final AP Top 25 polls. Sometimes you have to wait for things. Gary Blair is the son of Lee, a plaster foreman, and Jean, a housewife. It didnt take long five successful seasons for others to come calling for Blair. [4], National champion I was always standing and coaching. A&M women's basketball coach Gary Blair. We have a little travel in our plans, and I have a busy month of September coming up. She was ahead of her time. Garrido won five national titles while leading Cal State Fullerton and Texas, while Blair achieved what few figured possible in inheriting the Big 12s worst basketball program in 2003: a national title in 2011. "I've got nine grandkids that I want to go spend more time with. Im a product of Title XI, as I was the first man to coach women in the city of Dallas. Fantasy women's basketball: Will the addition of Candace Parker shake up fantasy values on the Aces. They offered me the head baseball job and a football coordinator job, but I turned them down to stay with the women. They used to ride in vans and wear tube socks. Sometimes you grow up, and sometimes you grow. Vic Schaefer came with me when Tom took the Colorado job. . Blair notched his 750th career win last month. Texas A&M coach Gary Blair, right, and his wife, Nan, make a long-distance relationship work. From 1993-2003, he was the head coach at Arkansas. I will not be second-guessing. When I got to Arkansas I needed a national recruiter, so I hired Tom Collen from Purdue. Ive got a saying: today I gave all I had, and what I kept Ive lost forever. Melissa Gregg is a Dallas police officer. I sat down two days ago on his front porch and listened to his problems and everything he has done. Theres 17 other national championships we didnt win. Joni Taylor is doing very well. . It was very good. That was a special time for the game, he said. Finish last in your league, and they call you an idiot, said Lemons, Texas basketball coach from 1976-82. He talks about his beginnings often, about the chances he was given and the opportunities he seized. Blair coached Debra and Kim Rodman on one of his state title teams their brother Dennis used to play Ping-Pong and talk about basketball with Blair at the school.

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