June 22, 2003

LAS VEGAS, NEV.-Duke University rising senior Alana Beard and head coach Gail Goestenkors each took home honors on Saturday at the 37th Annual Academy of Victor Awards at the Las Vegas Hilton.

In front of a capacity crow at the Hilton, the star-studded evening continued the Victor Awards' illustrious tradition as the longest running televised sports awards show. The Victor Awards will be aired nationally on Fox Sports Net on Sunday, June 22 at 6:00 PM (EST). It will also be re-broadcast over the network during June and July.

Beard earned female college basketball Player of the Year accolades, while Goestenkors earned female college basketball Coach of the Year.

A Shreveport, La., product, Beard earned her second National Player of the Year honor after leading the ACC with 22.0 points per game, while averaging 6.9 rebounds, 2.8 steals, 3.0 assists and 1.3 blocks on the season. Beard, a two-time Kodak All-America and Associated Press All-America, led the Blue Devils to their second consecutive Final Four appearance and the ACC Regular Season and ACC Tournament titles in 2002-03.

The honor for Goestenkors, who just finished her 11th season at Duke, is the third National Coach of the Year honor this season, after guiding Duke to an ACC-record 35 victories and the schools' third NCAA Final Four appearance. Goestenkors was also named Naismith and WBCA/Rawlings National Coach of the Year this past season. In 1999, Goestenkors also won the Victor Award.

The National Academy of Sports Editors, comprised of a cross-section of sports editors, writers and broadcasters, vote to determine the winners of the awards.

2003 Victor Sports Awards Winners:

     Pro Baseball
     Player -- Miguel Tejada, Oakland A's
     Rookie -- Jason Jennings, Colorado Rockies
     Manager -- Mike Scioscia, Anaheim Angels
     Comeback -- Tim Salmon, Anaheim Angels

     Pro Basketball (Male)
     Player -- Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
     Rookie -- Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns
     Coach -- Don Nelson, Dallas Mavericks
     Comeback -- Matt Harpring, Utah Jazz

     Pro Basketball (Female)
     Player -- Sheryl Swoopes, Houston Comets
     Coach -- Michael Cooper, Los Angeles Sparks

     College Basketball (Male)
     Player -- T.J. Ford, University of Texas
     Coach -- Jim Boeheim, Syracuse University

     College Basketball (Female)
     Player -- Alana Beard, Duke University
     Coach -- Gail Goestenkors, Duke University

     Pro Football
     Player -- Ricky Williams, Miami Dolphins
     Rookie -- Clinton Portis, Denver Broncos
     Coach -- Jon Gruden, Tampa Bay Bucaneers
     Comeback -- Tommy Maddox, Pittsburgh Steelers

     College Football
     Player -- Willis McGahee, University of Miami
     Coach -- Larry Coker, University of Miami

     Pro Hockey
     Player -- Todd Bertuzzi, Vancouver Canucks
     Rookie -- Barrett Jackman, St. Louis Blues
     Coach -- Mike Babcock, Anaheim Mighty Ducks
     Comeback -- Derian Hatcher, Dallas Stars

     Boxer of the Year -- Oscar De La Hoya

     Track & Field
     Male Athlete -- Tim Montgomery
     Female Athlete -- Deena Drossin

     Pro Tennis
     Male -- Lleyton Hewitt
     Female -- Serena Williams

     Pro Golf
     Male Player -- Tiger Woods
     Female Player -- Annika Sorenstam
     Senior Golf -- Hale Irwin

     Auto Racing Driver
     Tony Stewart -- NASCAR

     Horse Racing Jockey
     Jerry Bailey

     Soccer Player
     Mia Hamm, Washington Freedom, U.S. National Team

     Special Achievement Awards
     Mark Spitz -- Hall of Fame Inductee
     Reggie Jackson -- Hall of Fame Inductee
     Bob Wieland -- Double amputee tri-athlete
     LeRoy Nieman -- Noted artist
     Steve Fossett -- First hot air balloon solo trip around the world