VIRGINIA BEACH, VA (May 18) -- Old Dominion University head women's basketball coach Wendy Larry has been named the recipient of the Hampton Roads Outstanding Professional Woman of the Year award. She will be recognized at the annual Outstanding Professional Women Awards ceremony at the Virginia Beach Pavilion Theater on Friday, May 19, 2000 .
The award, which was started in 1982, has recognized some of the most prominent professional women in the area. Past winners include Virginia Symphony music director Jo Ann Falletta, Virginia Beach mayor Meyera Oberndorf, Operation Smile director Kathleen Magee, mail-order giant Lillian Vernon, and author V.C. Andrews. The first recipient was the Eastern Virginia Medical School's Dr. Georgeanna Seegar?Jones.
Larry completed her 13th season of coaching at Old Dominion University. During that time, she has compiled an impressive 309?100 ledger. Her 16?year head coaching career has produced a record of 358?131. She has led the Lady Monarchs to a national record nine Colonial Athletic Association conference championships and has been the league's Coach of the Year five different times.
As a head coach, Larry has been named Coach of the Year by three separate conferences. She was named the 1997 National Coach of the Year by Sporting News, RCA, and the U.S. Basketball Writers' Association for leading Old Dominion to a 34?2 record and an appearance in the NCAA National Championship game. She is an active community volunteer in Hampton Roads, serving on the board for directors for Habitat for Humanity, as well as working with the Make a Wish Foundation, Special Olympics, the American Cancer Society's "Relay for Life", and she is an annual participant in the "You Can't Beat the Kids'" night. In addition, Larry currently serves on the national Executive Council for Coaches vs. Cancer.
The event, featuring special guest Attorney General Mark Earley, begins with a social hour at 7 p.m., followed by the ceremony at 8 pm. Tickets are $16 and can be purchased by calling 490?8340.