HR1291 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1291 LRB093 24192 HSS 54388 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, This year, Coach Harry Statham entered his 39th year as the men's basketball coach and athletic director at his alma mater, McKendree College; and

WHEREAS, Last year, the Bearcat men's basketball team had another 20-win season, with a record of 24 wins and 10 losses, and advanced to the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship for the fifth consecutive year; and

WHEREAS, Coach Statham began this season as the active wins leader at the four-year college level; during his first 38 years, he amassed 871 victories, placing him third on the all-time list; only Dean Smith with 879 wins and Adolph Rupp with 876 wins were ahead of Statham; and

WHEREAS, In 2002-03, Coach Statham led the Bearcats to perhaps the most memorable season in school history; McKendree compiled a record of 34 wins and 4 losses, with no losses in American Midwest Conference (AMC) play for the first time; at the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship, McKendree posted three victories on its way to a berth in the NAIA Fab Four for the first time in team history; and

WHEREAS, On November 15, 2003, in Lebanon, by guiding the Bearcats to an 88-87 victory against Mountain State University, Coach Statham became the NAIA's all-time leader in career victories with 817 wins; and

WHEREAS, In addition to the on-the-court milestones, Coach Statham was recognized as the 2001-02 NAIA Men's Basketball Coach of the Year; he is also an 11-time recipient of the NAIA-Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Men's Basketball Coach of the Year; in 1987 he was inducted into the IBCA-NAIA Hall of Fame, and in 1998, he was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Under Coach Statham's leadership, the Bearcats have appeared in post-season play 33 times in 38 years; McKendree has reached the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship 10 times over the last 16 years; in each of the last 15 seasons, McKendree has recorded at least 20 wins; the Bearcats have averaged 27 wins a year in that span; McKendree ranks sixth among all NAIA schools in winning percentage over the last decade and is in the top 15 over the last five seasons; in all, McKendree has notched 20 or more wins 29 times under his tutelage; and

WHEREAS, Coach Statham began his coaching career while an undergraduate at McKendree College, by guiding the boy's basketball team at O'Fallon Junior High School while taking college courses at night; he was a graduate assistant for the men's basketball and track teams at the University of Illinois at Champaign while completing requirements for a master's of science degree in physical education; he coached at the high school level prior to returning to McKendree College, where he also served as the Bearcats' baseball coach for two seasons; and

WHEREAS, On Wednesday, December 1, 2004, in a match with Maryville University, Coach Statham achieved his 880th win, moving him into first place on the all-time victories list among coaches at a four-year college or university; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Coach Harry Statham on his 880th win as head basketball coach at McKendree College, making him the winningest basketball coach at a four-year college or university; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Coach Statham as a token of our respect and esteem and with best wishes for his continued success.