Yori Named Finalist for Kay Yow Award

Lincoln - Nebraska Coach Connie Yori earned national recognition on Tuesday, when she was named one of 10 finalists for the inaugural Kay Yow National Coach-of-the-Year Award.

Yori, who claimed Big 12 Conference Coach-of-the-Year honors on Monday, is joined by Connecticut's Geno Auriemma, Stanford's Tara VanDerveer, and Hartford's Jennifer Rizzotti. All four coaches led their teams to unbeaten conference records in 2010.

The other six finalists include Pat Summitt (Tennessee), Muffett McGraw (Notre Dame), Sherri Coale (Oklahoma), Jim Jabir (Dayton), Sue Semrau (Florida State) and Nikki Caldwell (UCLA).

The Kay Yow Award was established to honor the NCAA Division I women's head coach who embodies a winning spirit and displays great character both on and off the court. The winner will be voted on by a 26-member panel with the award to be presented at the 2010 NCAA Women's Final Four in San Antonio.

The distinguished voting panel includes Dawn Staley (South Carolina), Debbie Ryan (Virginia), Wendy Larry (Old Dominion) and three members of the Yow family. The committee will be chaired by Debbie Antonelli, one of the nation's top basketball analysts.

Yow was a coaching legend who led NC State to 737 wins during her 34 seasons at the school. She was wildly successful in every forum in which she coached, leading gold medal winners at the 1981 World University Games, the 1986 Goodwill Games, 1986 World Championships and the 1988 Olympics.

2010 Kay Yow Award Finalists

• Geno Auriemma            Connecticut
• Nikki Caldwell                UCLA
• Sherri Coale                  Oklahoma
• Jim Jabir                       Dayton
• Muffett McGraw            Notre Dame
• Jennifer Rizzotti             Hartford
• Sue Semrau                  Florida State
• Pat Summitt                  Tennessee
• Tara VanDerveer            Stanford
• Connie Yori                  Nebraska