From Washington University Athletics
Washington University in St. Louis announced today that the university will name the playing court in the WU Field House for Mark Edwards and Nancy Fahey, honoring the duo’s 35th and 30th anniversaries as WashU’s men’s and women’s basketball coaches, respectively.
Edwards-Fahey Court will be officially dedicated during a ceremony held between the women’s and men’s basketball games against Case Western Reserve University on Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. The dedication ceremony adds to an evening already full of celebration. That same night, the athletic program will honor the 2016 induction class into Washington University’s Sports Hall of Fame. It is also Eliot Family Night.
“The coaching legacies of Nancy Fahey and Mark Edwards are nearly unparalleled in the history of NCAA Division III athletics,” said Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton. “Their longevities and winning percentages put them in a very rare group of athletic leaders in the history of American collegiate sports. They have changed the lives of generations of student-athletes by the way they lead and the spirit of competition they have instilled. They have nurtured the development of great athletes and even greater individuals, and I could not be more pleased with the designation of our home court in their honor.”
“For more than three decades, Mark Edwards and Nancy Fahey have left an indelible imprint on the face of our athletics program,” said Josh Whitman, the John M. Schael Director of Athletics. “Not only have they enjoyed remarkable success, but they have done it with grace, humility, and a collaborative spirit. They have been tremendous campus citizens, with a reach that far transcends the walls of the WU Field House. We are excited to celebrate this shared milestone in such a significant way.”
Edwards, who will toe the sidelines for his 35th season at his alma mater, has posted a 627-273 (.697) overall record and garnered NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year honors three times (2002, 2008, 2009).
He guided WashU to the 2008 and 2009 NCAA Division III National Championships, becoming just the fourth school in Division III history to win consecutive titles. Edwards ranks sixth in active wins by a Division III head coach and 12th all-time in NCAA Division III wins with 627.
Edwards has guided the Bears to 13 University Athletic Association (UAA) titles and 19 NCAA tournaments. In addition, 19 student-athletes have earned 29 All-America awards under Edwards, along with eight Academic All-America honorees.
“What a great honor for Nancy and me to be recognized in the naming of the court. Although we are basketball coaches, I feel that we will be representing all of the student-athletes who have achieved so much success on the Field House court," Edwards said. “The thing that makes this honor so special is that our names will forever be linked to future athletic successes and not just those of the past. Every time a net is cut down or a banner hung in the rafters, we will be a part of it. I can think of no greater honor than this."
Fahey, who enters her 30th season on the Danforth Campus, has led WashU to a 688-124 (.847) overall record. She is the only coach in NCAA Division III history to win five national championships, including a stretch of four consecutive titles from 1998-2001. Fahey is also the leader of a program that owns the second-longest winning streak in NCAA women's basketball history at 81 games.
Fahey, who has led WashU to a Division III-record 10 Final Four appearances, became the fastest coach in NCAA women's basketball history to reach 600 wins, doing so in her 706th game during the 2011-12 season. Since her arrival on the Danforth Campus in 1986, Fahey's teams have won 21 UAA titles and made 27 NCAA Division III Tournament appearances.
Fahey achieved another pinnacle in 2012, becoming the first NCAA Division III representative to be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tenn. She ranks fourth among all active NCAA coaches with a .847 career winning percentage.
“I am incredibly humbled by this honor, but this is truly about the WashU Basketball family. That means every assistant coach, trainer, manager, administrator, SID and professor who has helped make this such a fantastic journey,” Fahey said. “My special thanks go to the players! They are the ones who have given their all for the past 30 years. This is a Bear family honor.”
This notable achievement is being heralded across the university community. WashU Hall of Fame volleyball coach Teri Clemens, who won seven national championships in 14 seasons (1985-98) leading the Bears, is excited for her former colleagues.
“Mark and Nancy epitomize commitment to the Bears’ Athletic Program and honor and passion for Washington University. I am immensely proud to call them friends and colleagues,” said Clemens.
Men’s and women’s basketball alumni are encouraged to return to St. Louis for the court dedication. Additional information will be forthcoming regarding hotel arrangements and team social gatherings.