Inaugural class for the A STEP UP Assistant Coaches Hall of Fame announced
The inaugural class of the A STEP UP Assistant Coaches Hall of Fame includes twelve inductees: four from NCAA DI women’s basketball; four from DI men’s basketball; and two each from Divisions II and III – one men’s basketball and one women’s basketball.
This May marks the 10-year anniversary of the organization’s Assistant Coaches Professional Development Symposium founded by Johnny and Felicia Allen and the awards commemorate the milestone with support from presenting sponsor Glen Wright with Worth Advisors.
From A STEP UP:
This is the first Hall of Fame of its kind that specifically recognizes NCAA Divisions I, II and III men and women ‘assistant’ basketball coaches. A STEP UP is celebrating its 10th year in providing professional development for Coaches.
The awards ceremony is set for Tuesday, May 7, 2019 during the symposium’s Legends Breakfast at the downtown Sheraton Atlanta Hotel.
Women’s Basketball Division I – Assistant Coach Inductees)
Chris Dailey, UConn
As Connecticut’s top assistant coach for the last 33 years, the Huskies have posted a 1015-135 overall record en route to 11 NCAA National Championships. Helped turn UConn into a national powerhouse coaching 42 All-Americans, 19 Final Fours and six perfect seasons.Helped develop 19 Huskies into First Team All-Americans and eight National Players of the Year. Inducted into the Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the New England Basketball Hall of Fame
Mickie DeMoss, Retired
Her overall record as an assistant coach is 845-207. As an assistant, she helped guide Tennessee to six NCAA National Championships and 12 NCAA Women’s Final Four appearances. Two-year stint as an assistant for the Indiana Fever including their 2012 WNBA Championship season. During her career also served as an assistant coach at Auburn University, Memphis State, Texas, La Tech and Louisiana State University.
Carol Owens, Notre Dame
During her 18-year combined stint at Notre Dame (first from 1995-2005, then again since 2010-11). Notre Dame has posted a 527-102 (.838), averaging over 29 victories per season in her tenure. Two national titles 2001 and 2018. Notre Dame has appeared in six (6) NCAA title games and have reached the Final Four eight times. Assisted with the program’s nationally-ranked recruiting efforts (Notre Dame has attracted 22 consecutive top-20 recruiting classes).
Amy Tucker, Stanford
Had an illustrious career as a Cardinal coach for 32 seasons. An excellent strategist, she arrived in 1985-86 and helped guide the Cardinal to an 889-183 (.829) overall record. Stanford won a pair of NCAA titles, reached 13 Final Fours, 19 Elite Eights and 24 Sweet Sixteens. At the conference level, the Cardinal claimed 23 Pac-12 regular-season championships, won 12 Pac-12 Tournament titles and posted a league record of 486-72 (.871). Tucker was responsible for assembling a multitude top-five recruiting classes during her tenure.
Men’s Basketball (Division I – Assistant Coach Inductees) Donny Daniels, Gonzaga
Has nine years as an assistant coach on the Gonzaga staff, 7 years with UCLA and 11 seasons with Utah. During his eight year tenure, Gonzaga has won seven West Coast Conference regular season titles and Tournament championships, made the NCAA Tournament all eight seasons, including an appearance in the national championship game in 2017. One of the most respected coaches in the country consistently recruiting Top 5 ranked classes. While at UCLA the team earned back to back Pac 10 honors (2006-2008) and made three (3) consecutive trips to the Final Four. During 11 seasons at Utah, the Utes made 8 NCAA Tournament appearances and were national runner-up in 1998.
Stan Jones, Florida State Â
Longest tenured assistant coach in the ACC. In 17 seasons at Florida State helped the Seminoles advance to the Elite Eight of the 2018 NCAA Tournament and to the Sweet 16 of the 2011 NCAA Tournament. Assisted in guiding Florida State to its first ACC Championship in school history in 2012 and to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances from 2009-12. Instrumental in helping more than 30 Seminoles become professional players with 12 NBA Draft selections in the last 16 years, including five first round selections. Also coached at Miami, Mississippi and with the Washington Wizards.
Steve Robinson, North Carolina Â
Considered by many as of the top five high major assistants in the country. Has spent 15 years as an assistant coach at North Carolina, 8 years at Kansas and also coached at both Cornell and Radford. While at North Carolina he has been a part of three (2005, 2009, 2017) national championships helping to take nine teams to the Final Four (five at UNC, four at Kansas). Has won multiple ACC and Big 12 Championships.
Dwayne Stephens, Michigan State Â
Sixteen seasons at Michigan State.  Has coached in 17 straight NCAA Tournaments, including the 2003 Final Four with Marquette and the 2005, 2009, 2010 and 2015 Final Fours with MSU. He has helped guide MSU to four Big Ten Championships and three Big Ten Tournament titles. In total, 25 different Spartans have earned some form of All-Big Ten recognition during his time on staff, while MSU has posted a 382-147 record in 14 seasons. He’s worked closely with eight Spartans selected in the last seven NBA Drafts
Division II – Women’s Basketball Assistant Coach Inductee – C. White, Bentley University
Has served as an assistant coach at Bentley for 20 seasons. Has a reputation as one of the best recruiters at DIII having recruited six of the top 15 scorers in program history. During her tenure as top assistant coach she has been a part of the 2014 national championship, four Elite Eight appearances, six Northeast-10 regular season titles and seven NE-10 Conference Tournament crowns. Spent one year as an assistant coach at Harvard.
Division II – Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach Inductee – Dan Shardo, University of Findlay
During 12 seasons with the University of Findlay men’s basketball the team has recorded a 300-70 record. He has been a part of eight GLIAC South Division championship teams, six GLIAC Tournament winning squads, and has helped coach the Oilers to nine NCAA Division II National Tournament appearances. He was also serving as an assistant coach on staff when the Oilers went 36-0 during the 2008-09 campaign en route to the NCAA Division II National Championship. Served as an assistant coach at Earlham College in Richmond, Ind.
Division III – Women’s Basketball Assistant Coach Inductee – Arthur Howell, Emmanuel College
Has spent 26 seasons at Emmanuel as an assistant coach. Over his first 24 seasons, he helped guide Emmanuel to a 521-172 (.752) overall record and 245-12 (.953) Great Northeast Athletic Conference mark and 19 consecutive winning seasons. He has been with the Saints for multiple GNAC Championships and NCAA Tournament runs, including Emmanuel’s appearance in the NCAA Final Four in 2001, Sweet Sixteen in 2007 and Elite Eight in 2012. He was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2015.
Division III – Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach Inductee – Tom Jessee, Augustana College
Has been an assistant men’s basketball coach at Augustana College for 25 years helping to produce 10 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin championships. This year’s team won its fifth straight CCIW championship, which had never before been done in the 73-year history of the conference. Findlay also has 6 CCIW Tournament Championships and 10 NCAA Tournament appearances. The team finished as National Championship Runner-Ups (2nd Place) in 2015 and 2017. Augustana is just the second program in history to advance to the quarterfinals or further in the NCAA Division III Tournament four consecutive years (2015-18).
