University of Connecticut Athletics
New York Athletic Club Honors Auriemma And Krzyzewski
5/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
May 12, 2010
NEW YORK (MMD Newswire) - At a gala event on Wednesday evening, May 12th, at the New York Athletic Club (NYAC), Mike Krzyzewski, Duke University's Men's head basketball coach, and Geno Auriemma, head coach of the University of Connecticut's women's basketball squad, received the 2010 NYAC's "Winged Foot Award," which was established in 1996 and is presented annually to the winning coaches of the Men's and Women's NCAA Division I Basketball Champions.
Highly-regarded basketball sportscaster Billy Packer served as emcee and, as part of the program, the NYAC made a contribution in both winner's names to the "Coaches vs. Cancer" charity.
Observing in the mid-1990s that there was no official award to honor the head coaches of the victorious NCAA Men's and Women's Basketball teams, the New York Athletic Club - - always in the vanguard of sporting breakthroughs and ideas - - created the prestigious "Winged Foot Award" program. The Club presented the first men's trophy to Rick Pitino of Kentucky in 1996; and followed that by bestowing an award upon Purdue's Carolyn Peck in 1999.
In addition to this year's trophy, Krzyzewski also earned the Winged Foot Award in 2001 (as well as two additional National Championships in '91 and '92). During the past regular season, Coach K led the Blue Devils to a 31-5 record, a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament and a thrilling 61-59 victory over Butler University to win the national title.
This past campaign, Auriemma mentored UConn to a 53-47 triumph over Stanford to claim their 7th national title. The 39-0 Huskies' victory over Stanford extended its women's NCAA record for consecutive victories to 78. Aureimma has now won a record six Winged Foot Awards, the others coming in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2009. (He led the UConn women to the 1995 NCAA Championship, as well.)
According to Jim O'Brien, chairman of the Winged Foot Award Committee, Coaches vs. Cancer is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) that empowers basketball coaches, their teams and local communities to make a difference in the fight against cancer.
About the NYAC
A private club (501 c 7 designation) founded in 1868, the New York Athletic Club is among the world's most accomplished sporting institutions, sponsoring world class teams in track and field, rowing, judo, wrestling, fencing and water polo, among others. The NYAC's headquarters at 59th Street and 7th Avenue in New York City and at Travers Island in Pelham Manor, NY, include top class sporting facilities. At the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, the NYAC's 41 representatives won 17 medals.
