Education and Coaching Career
Yow received her Bachelor of Science degree in English from East Carolina University in 1964, she was a member of the Delta Zeta Sorority. After graduation she worked as English teacher, librarian and girls' basketball coach at Allen Jay High School in High Point, North Carolina. She then earned her Master's degree in Physical Education from the UNC-Greensboro in 1970 and then took the position of women's athletics coordinator and women's basketball coach at Elon College.
In 1975, Yow became NC State's first full-time women's basketball coach and also coached women's volleyball and softball. She led the women's basketball team to an ACC championship in the first season of league play in 1978.
On January 11, 2001, she reached the 600-win milestone for her career with a 71–64 win over Temple University. On February 5, 2007, she reached the 700-win milestone for her career with a 68–51 win over Florida State University. At the time of her death, she ranked as the fifth winningest active NCAA Division I women's basketball coach. In recognition for her dedication and success, Yow was selected for induction into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on June 5, 2002, the fifth female coach to be selected. On February 16, 2007 the basketball court at Reynolds Coliseum was renamed Kay Yow Court at Reynolds Coliseum in her honor. On July 11, 2007, Yow received the inaugural Jimmy V ESPY Award for Perseverance, an award named for fellow NC State basketball coach and friend Jim Valvano. She received a standing ovation.
Yow also coached the silver-medal-winning U.S. women's basketball team in the 1981 World University Games; the 1986 gold-winning U.S. teams in the Goodwill Games and the FIBA World Championship; and the gold-medal-winning U.S. women's basketball team in the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
| All-Time College Coaching Record | |||||
| Season | Team | Record | Postseason | AP Poll | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971–1972 | Elon | 5-11 | |||
| 1972–1973 | Elon | 13-3 | NCAIAW State Tournament | ||
| 1973–1974 | Elon | 20-1 | AIAW Regionals | ||
| 1974–1975 | Elon | 19-4 | AIAW Regionals | ||
| 1975–1976 | NC State | 19-7 | Women's NIT Quarterfinals | ||
| 1976–1977 | NC State | 21-3 | AIAW Region II | 10 | |
| 1977–1978 | NC State | 29-5 | AIAW Elite Eight | 3 | |
| 1978–1979 | NC State | 27-7 | AIAW Region II | 11 | |
| 1979–1980 | NC State | 28-8 | AIAW Sweet 16 | 10 | |
| 1980–1981 | NC State | 21-10 | AIAW Sweet 16 | 13 | |
| 1981–1982 | NC State | 24-7 | NCAA Sweet 16 | 12 | |
| 1982–1983 | NC State | 22-8 | NCAA 1st Round | 16 | |
| 1983–1984 | NC State | 23-9 | NCAA Sweet 16 | 16 | |
| 1984–1985 | NC State | 25-6 | NCAA Sweet 16 | 12 | |
| 1985–1986 | NC State | 18-11 | NCAA 2nd Round | ||
| 1986–1987 | NC State | 24-7 | NCAA Sweet 16 | 13 | |
| 1987–1988 | NC State | 10-17 | |||
| 1988–1989 | NC State | 24-7 | NCAA Sweet 16 | 13 | |
| 1989–1990 | NC State | 25-6 | NCAA Sweet 16 | 11 | |
| 1990–1991 | NC State | 27-6 | NCAA Sweet 16 | 7 | |
| 1991–1992 | NC State | 16-12 | |||
| 1992–1993 | NC State | 14-13 | |||
| 1993–1994 | NC State | 13-14 | |||
| 1994–1995 | NC State | 21-10 | NCAA Sweet 16 | 24 | |
| 1995–1996 | NC State | 20-10 | NCAA 2nd Round | 23 | |
| 1996–1997 | NC State | 19-12 | NCAA 1st Round | ||
| 1997–1998 | NC State | 25-7 | NCAA Final Four | 10 | |
| 1998–1999 | NC State | 17-12 | NCAA 2nd Round | ||
| 1999–2000 | NC State | 20-9 | NCAA 1st Round | 23 | |
| 2000–2001 | NC State | 22-11 | NCAA Sweet 16 | 19 | |
| 2001–2002 | NC State | 14-15 | |||
| 2002–2003 | NC State | 11-17 | |||
| 2003–2004 | NC State | 17-15 | NCAA 1st Round | ||
| 2004–2005 | NC State | 21-8 | NCAA 1st Round | 21 | |
| 2005–2006 | NC State | 19-12 | NCAA 1st Round | ||
| 2006–2007 | NC State | 15-4 | NCAA Sweet 16 | 18 | |
| 2007–2008 | NC State | 21-13 | Women's NIT Semifinals | ||
| 2008–2009 | NC State | 8-7 | |||
| Overall | 737-344 | .682 | |||
| ACC Regular Season Champion | |
| ACC Tournament Champion | |
| ACC Regular Season and Tournament Champion |
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