Former coaches Sylvia Hatchell, Kay Yow join coaches circle at Naismith Hall of Fame

By Kacy Hintz, WRAL Sports anchor/reporter

Springfield, Mass. — Former UNC women’s basketball coach Sylvia Hatchell received her own special seat outside the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Hatchell was added to the Naismith Coaches Circle Saturday inside the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Hatchell was inducted into the Hall of Fame 10 years ago, and in 2004 she was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

The Naismith Coaches Circles is located in the Legacy Garden of the Hall of Fame.

“When I pulled [the curtain] off and looked at it, I thought, ‘Is that me?’” Hatchell said.

Each granite bench inside the Coaches Circle tells the story of how a coach shaped the lives of his or her players.

A few of Hatchell’s players from her time at Francis Marion and UNC were in attendance, including former UNC stars and NCAA Players of the Year Charlotte Smith and Ivory Latta, who presented her.

“This is so much fun because all the kids and former players are back here,” Hatchell said. “It backs so many memories. That was when I was really fun.”

Making the moment even more special, Hatchel was joined by 2002 Naismith Hall of Fame inductee and legendary NC State women’s basketball coach, the late Kay Yow.

Yow’s presenter and sister, Susan Yow, praised several people who spearheaded the fundraising, including former NC State students who gave a financial gift, that made the granite bench possible.

“It’s such an honor to be here, but especially with Kay,” Hatchell said. “We were in the ACC and coached together internationally, but Kay was such a good friend. Even though we were top competitors at State and Carolina, we were very, very close. It’s and honor to do this with Kay."

Hatchell and Yow also join an elite club. They are just the fourth and fifth women to have a bench unveiled with their name on it at the Naismith Hall of Fame, joining former Tennessee coach Pat Summit, former Rutgers University coach C. Vivian Stringer and former University of Texas Coach Jody Conradt.

UNC is the first and only school with three benches in the circle: Dean Smith, Roy Williams and now Hatchell.

“A bench right beside Roy Williams, so it’s just an honor to be here,” Hatchell said. “The Hall of Fame; it doesn’t get any better than this.”