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From a player to graduate assistant to assistant coach to head coach, Wendy Larry has been a part of the success of Lady Monarchs basketball at every level possible. She is no stranger to the dedication and drive to be successful and in her 30 plus years associated with Old Dominion her list of accomplishments are nothing short of impressive. During her 20 years at the helm of the Old Dominion women's basketball program, Larry's teams have reached 19 NCAA Tournaments, captured a NCAA record setting 16 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Titles, collected nearly 500 victories, and made Lady Monarch basketball one of the most recognized names in women's basketball. For Wendy Larry, the love affair with Old Dominion does not begin merely in 1987 when she was named head coach, but spans three decades filled with history and accomplishment. She has been an instrumental member of the Lady Monarch family at every level. From building a foundation for the program at its infancy as a student-athlete as one of the first women to receive a grant-in-aid at Old Dominion, to mentoring and continuing the winning tradition as an assistant coach, to guiding Old Dominion to its most triumphant era as a head coach, Larry's love, embrace, and influence in the game of women's basketball has been colossal. Considered one of the elite coaches in the ever growing world of women's basketball, she has built championship caliber teams year in and year-out and supplied further prestige and fame to what is the Lady Monarch women's basketball dynasty. The Lady Monarchs have always been teams of ambition and determination and their passion to succeed can be found from the top down. Positioning herself as a true leader in her profession, Larry has led her teams to 17, 20+ wins seasons over her tenure. In 23 years as a head coach, she has compiled an impressive 521-191 record and as the head of the Lady Monarch program has won an impressive 75 percent of her games (472-160). During her tenure, her teams also assembled what was known as the "The Streak," consisting of 113 consecutive regular and post-season conference victories from 1995-2001. Larry's achievements have not gone without recognition. She has been the recipient of eight Coach of the Year awards from three different leagues and has also been recognized on the national level as well with WBCA District III, RCA, Sporting News, and United States Women's Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) Coach of the Year accolades. Returning to her alma mater as head coach of the Lady Monarchs in 1987, Larry immediately made her impact, being named the Sun Belt Coach of the Year as her squad advanced to the NCAA Tournament. During the next two seasons, Old Dominion collected over 20 wins each year and advanced to second round NCAA play, posting marks of 23-9 (1988-89) and 21- 10 (1989-90). 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 Regional 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 and into this century, Old Dominion enjoyed a resurgence of national success with an appearance in the 1997 NCAA National Championship game against the Lady Vols of Tennessee in Cincinnati, Ohio. In four of the last eight years, the Lady Monarchs have been regulars at the Sweet Sixteen. In 1998, Old Dominion faced NC State in the East Region, Duke in the East Region in 1999, Louisiana Tech in the Midwest Region in 2000, and danced to the Elite Eight against eventual national champion Connecticut in 2002. Larry's success stories have also transcended to the professional ranks. Nine of her former players have been drafted by the WNBA. Following the 2002 season, Larry witnessed four of her former Old Dominion student-athletes reach the pro ranks as Old Dominion joined Connecticut with the most athletes selected in the draft. In fact, once a Monarch, always a Monarch still holds true for former Lady Monarch Ticha Penicheiro, currently playing with the 2005 WNBA Championship Sacramento Monarchs. Hamchetou Maiga-Ba, currently of the Houston Comets, is a Larry protege who is among the long list of Lady Monarchs to play in the professional ranks. Along with Penicheiro, Maiga-Ba brought home a WNBA Championship as a member of the Monarchs in 2005. Larry's impact, however, has also reached the coaching ranks. Old Dominion legend and former assistant Anne Donovan led Charlotte in 2001 to the WNBA Finals and Seattle to the championship trophy in 2004 and Alisa Scott, a six year member of Larry's staff, served an assistant coach for the three-time WNBA Champion Houston Comets. Prior to her current post at Old Dominion, Larry was the head coach at nearby Virginia Wesleyan College from 1978-79 and Arizona from 1985-87. She was named the PAC West Coach of the Year during the 1985- 86 campaign as her Wildcat team posted a 19-9 record. In addition, Larry spent one year as the head coach at Cape Henry Collegiate High School in Virginia Beach. Larry first returned to her alma mater under the guidance of women's basketball hall of famer Marianne Stanley for the 1979-80 season as a graduate assistant coach before being elevated to a full-time assistant. During that span, she was part of two Old Dominion national championships - 1980 (AIAW) and 1985 (NCAA). Larry has been an active member of several committees and boards away from the hardwood. Most recently she wrapped up her two-year term as serving as the president of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and has been named to the 2005-08 USA Basketball Collegiate Committee. She has also been involved with the USA Today Coaches Poll board, the NCAA East Regional Women's Basketball Advisory Committee, and the advisory committee for Coaches vs. Cancer. Larry is also committed to many civic organizations through the Hampton Roads area. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Hampton Roads Habitat for Humanity and created the "Wendy Walk" to help raise money for Habitat's cause. Wendy and her team are also supporters of "The Buddy Walk of Hampton Roads," an effort to raise money and awareness of Down's Syndrome. Larry also served as the honorary chair of the 2003 Race for the Cure in Hampton Roads and the team has been an active with the annual race as well as the annual "Hoops for a Cure" event at the Ted Constant Convocation Center. A native of Bloomingdale, New Jersey and a huge New York Yankees fan, Larry calls Virginia Beach her home.
OVERALL RECORD:
RECORD AT ODU:
CAA Coach of the Year:
Sporting News National Coach of the Year
RCA National Coach of the Year
U.S. Basketball Writers Association Coach of the Year Sun Belt Coach of the Year 1988
"PAC West" Coach of the Year |
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