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Wendy Larry - Head Coach
17th season overall
For over a decade, Wendy Larry has epitomized ambition and excellence in the sport of women's basketball. A leader among the collegiate coaching world, Larry has built a national-contending program that has, in recent years, returned to the elite national spotlight.
A 29-5 overall record, a record-setting ninth consecutive Colonial Athletic Association title, a number four seed in the NCAA Midwest Region, a CAA Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year were all team highlights that celebrated the program and school at the turn of the millennium.
Larry has been an integral member of the Old Dominion women's basketball program for over 25 years...first as a player, then as an assistant coach, and finally as the current head coach. Larry is entering her 14th season at the helm of the Lady Monarch program and has enjoyed tremendous success in that capacity. Most recently, Larry's 350th career win and 300th victory at Old Dominion during the 1999-200 season were high points that cemented Larry's position among the elite coaches of the nation.
The Old Dominion women's basketball program has flourished with tradition since the early age of basketball. Among the highlights of the Old Dominion women's basketball program are three National Championships, 19 NCAA Tournament appearances, and 13 conference championships, including nine consecutive CAA crowns. Larry, in her own way, has added to the success.
In 16 years as a head coach, Larry has won 73 percent of her games. During that span, she has been honored by several organizations. Most recently, she was named the Woman of the Year by the Outstanding Professional Women of Hampton Roads Organization. She has been the recipient of seven Conference Coach of the Year awards from three different leagues, including five trophies from the CAA. Larry's latest Coach of the Year honor came in 1999 from the CAA.
In addition, Larry was named the WBCA District III Coach of the Year in 1997, which qualified her for National Coach of the Year consideration. She also won several national awards, including RCA Coach of the Year, Sporting News Coach of the Year, and United States Women's Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) Coach of the Year.
This season, Larry hopes to continue a tradition of coaching excellence that keeps climbing. Larry will begin her 14th season at her alma mater, having piloted Old Dominion to ten conference titles (one Sun Belt and nine CAA) and 12 NCAA appearances in 13 years -- including the last nine consecutive NCAA tourneys. She guided last year's team to a 29-5 mark while the team remained one of the top squads in the country throughout the winter, finishing 14th in the final ASSOCIATED PRESS poll.
The Lady Monarchs played one of the toughest schedules in 1999-2000, featuring a slate that was highlighted with five nationally-ranked opponents. Old Dominion won the Syracuse Carrier Classic while also posting huge wins over in-state rival Virginia, Tidewater-area rival Hampton, Clemson, and Virginia.
In her first season as head coach with the Lady Monarchs (1987-88), Larry was named Sun Belt Coach of the Year as her squad advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The next two seasons, Old Dominion collected over 20 wins each, posting marks of 23-9 (1988-89) and 21-10 (1989-90). Both teams advanced to the second round of NCAA play. In 1991-92, the team posted a 20-11 mark and advanced to the NCAA East Region. The following season saw Old Dominion reach the NCAA Mideast Second Round with a record of 22-8. The Lady Monarchs reached the East Region Second Round with a 25-6 ledger in 1993-94 and then the Sweet Sixteen in 1995-96 with a 29-3 mark.
In the late 90's, Old Dominion enjoyed a resurgence of great national success with an appearance in the 1997 NCAA National Championship game against Tennessee in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1998, 1999, and 2000, the Lady Monarchs advanced to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen, losing to NC State in the East Region in 1998, Duke in the East Region in 1999, and Louisiana Tech in the Midwest Region in 2000.
Equally impressive has been the team's track record since joining the CAA in the 1991-92 season. Under Larry's tutelage, Old Dominion has enjoyed league dominance. Winning over 20 games in each of their seasons, the Lady Monarchs have gone unbeaten in league play in their last 102 outings and have won 151 of their last 152 CAA games. In the 1999-2000 season, Old Dominion captured its ninth consecutive conference crown, setting a national record.
Prior to her current post at Old Dominion, Larry was the head coach at Virginia Wesleyan College and also at Arizona (1985-87). She was named PAC West Coach of the Year in 1985-86 when her Arizona team collected a 19-9 record. In addition, Larry spent one year as the head coach at Cape Henry Collegiate High School in Virginia Beach.
The first return to Old Dominion for Larry came in 1979-80 when she began as a graduate assistant coach before moving to a full-time assistant spot. During that time, she aided in the coaching of several Old Dominion legends including Nancy Lieberman, Inge Nissen, and Anne Donovan. As an assistant coach, Larry was part of two Old Dominion national championships -- 1979-80 (AIAW) and 1984-85 (NCAA).
During her collegiate playing career (1973-76), Larry was a strong and skilled rebounder who was looked to as a team captain during her junior year.
In addition to her coaching, Larry is an active speaker, very highly sought after for public speaking appointments. With a very dynamic and animated flair for the game she loves, Larry is also a frequent clinician and camp speaker.
Larry has been a member of several committees and boards within collegiate women's basketball, including the USA Today Coaches Poll board and the NCAA East Regional Women's Basketball Advisory Committee. She is a current member of the WBCA Executive Board and a member of the advisory committee for the Coaches vs. Cancer Challenge. An active member of the Hampton Roads community, Larry participates in many civic organizations and serves on the Board of Directors for the Hampton Roads Habitat for Humanity. In October, she organized and became the Grand Marshall for the "Wendy Walk," a walk-a-thon event to raise money for Habitat's cause.
A native of New Jersey, she presently resides in Virginia Beach.
THE LARRY LEDGER TOTALS:
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