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Prestigious Annual Honor to Recognize Boys and Girls High School Coaches Who Have Made Significant Contribution to the Game SPRINGFIELD, MA - (September 28, 2006) - The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today the establishment of the Morgan Wootten Award: For Lifetime Achievement In Coaching High School Basketball, honoring a boys and girls high school coach who has achieved extraordinary results in and made a significant contribution to the game of basketball at the high school level.
Named in honor of legendary DeMatha High School (MD) coach and Hall of Famer Morgan Wootten, the Award winners will be selected by a blue-ribbon panel comprised of national media members covering high school basketball, executives with a significant role in high school and amateur basketball, elite coaches and Coach Wootten. The inaugural award winners will be announced at the 2007 Spalding Hoophall Classic high school invitational in Springfield, Massachusetts on January 13th and recognized at halftime of the 2007 Boys and Girls McDonald's High School All-America Games in March. "One of the proudest moments in my coaching career was the day I entered the Hall of Fame - not only for me personally, but for the statement it made about the importance of high school basketball", said Coach Wootten. "There are thousands of men and women dedicated to shaping the future of young people by coaching at the high school level, and I am thrilled to be part of an award that recognizes the accomplishments of high school coaches and celebrates the positive impact they have on so many student-athletes." Candidates for the Award may be active or retired coaches who have earned a college degree and possess a minimum of 25 years of coaching experience at a high school(s) which adheres to national, state or league standards. Nominations for the 2007 Morgan Wootten Award must be submitted to the Basketball Hall of Fame no later than Wednesday, November 1, 2006 to be considered. Nomination forms are available online at www.hoophall.com, or by contacting the Basketball Hall of Fame. Nominations should be submitted to: Greg Procino, Basketball Hall of Fame, 1000 West Columbus Avenue, Springfield, MA 01105; via fax to 413-781-1939; or via email to
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Coach Wootten was enshrined as a coach into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000, becoming the first and only coach to be elected as a result of his or her high school coaching achievements. Wootten, a graduate of the University of Maryland, coached at DeMatha for 46 seasons, compiling an astounding 1,274-192 win/loss record. Over 150 of his players went on to play in college, with many also starring in the NBA. Coach Wootten has won numerous coaching and teaching awards and accolades for his work, and still is active teaching others about the game he loves. Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the birthplace of basketball, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level. For more information, please visit our website at www.hoophall.com or call 1-877-4-HOOPLA. |
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