July 15, 2007

Courtesy of VirginiaSports.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Virginia women's basketball head coach Debbie Ryan has been named to the Class of 2008 for induction into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame announced on Sunday on ABC-TV during halftime of the 2007 WNBA All-Star game.

Joining Ryan in the Class of 2008 are Patty Broderick, Lin Laursen, Jill Rankin-Schneider, Suzie McConnell-Serio, and Michele Timms.

"I am humbled and honored to be named to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame," Ryan said. "My life has been blessed with tremendous players, coaches, staff members, and administrators over the years who have supported me and share equally in this honor. I am very thankful and fortunate to be able to represent the University of Virginia and my entire family in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. This is a proud moment for all of us."

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, which held its grand opening and inaugural induction in 1999. When the Class of 2008 is officially inducted in Knoxville, Tenn., on June 13-14, the list of individuals who have been recognized as Women's Basketball Hall of Fame inductees will increase to 103. The Class of 2008 will be formally introduced at the 2007 State Farm Tip-Off Classic on November 11 at the University of North Carolina.

Ryan is the fifth inductee to hail from the state of Virginia. She joins Old Dominion All-Americans Nancy Lieberman (induction class of `99) and Anne Donovan (`99), former James Madison coach Betty Jaynes (`02), and former ODU coach Marianne Stanley (`00).

In 2004-05, Ryan became a member of a very elite club. On Dec. 29, she recorded the 600th victory in her career, becoming the 11th women's coach all-time to achieve 600 wins in her coaching career. She received the WBCA Victory Club Award for her achievements. Ryan stands 651-278 in 30 seasons at Virginia. The mentor among all ACC coaches, Ryan stands 275-134 in ACC games only. Ryan is also the fifth coach in NCAA Division I history to reach the mark with all the wins coming at the same school.

During her tenure, Ryan has led Virginia to 25 postseason appearances, including 21 NCAA Tournament berths. Other measures of Ryan's success include 12 appearances in the NCAA "Sweet 16", including 11 straight years (1987-97), three Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament titles, three straight Final Four appearances, the 1990 and 1992 East Regional titles, the 1991 Midwest Regional title, and 11 ACC regular-season crowns.

Ryan was selected as the Naismith Coach of the Year in 1991 by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, and has won the ACC Coach of the Year award seven times. She was named the Converse District III Coach of the Year and 2000 IKON/WBCA District IIICoach of the Year and earned state-wide recognition as the Virginia state Coach of the Year four times.

Ryan gives credit for many of her personal awards to the incredible players who have come through the Virginia program. Ryan has recruited and developed players such as Val Ackerman, Cathy Grimes, Donna Holt, Dawn Staley, Tonya Cardoza, Heather and Heidi Burge, Tammi Reiss, Dena Evans, Wendy Palmer, and Tora Suber. Players under Ryan's guidance have won 31 All-America honors, 17 Academic All-America honors, six ACC Player of the Year awards, and 58 All-Conference awards. Virginia also has the most three-time All-ACC first team selections (Dawn Staley, Donna Holt, and Wendy Palmer).

In addition to the accomplishments on the court, 100 percent of Virginia players who have completed their four-year eligibility have graduated from the University. Alumni of Ryan's program have gone on to successful careers in medicine, law, engineering, business, and coaching.

In 2006-07 while guiding the Cavaliers to a 19-15 overall record and a 25th postseason appearance, Ryan received a very special honor from UVa. During halftime of the inaugural game in the John Paul Jones Arena, UVa Director of Athletics Craig Littlepage made a very special announcement before the fans and team alumnae. The women's locker room would be dubbed the "Debbie Ryan Locker Room" for the Cavalier coach who was in her 30th season at the school.

Ryan is the winningest coach in Atlantic Coast Conference history, having guided her teams to more than 600 victories. Ryan and NC State's Kay Yow shared the 2007 "Bob Bradley Spirit & Courage Award" for their public display of perseverance and leadership in the fight against cancer while being valuable contributors to their universities.

In 2000, Ryan was faced with her most serious opponent, pancreatic cancer. Ryan underwent surgery to remove a tumor and a series of radiation treatments during the offseason but remained as coach of the Cavaliers in the 2000-01 season. Last year, she celebrated her fifth anniversary of being cancer-free and continues as an active leader in fund-raising events for the University of Virginia Cancer Center.