Goodbye, Coach Kay Yow

North Carolina State head coach Kay Yow, 66, died this morning, after a long and extremely courageous battle with cancer.

Coach Yow coached at NC State for 34 seasons and accumulated 737 wins in spectacular coaching career.

She touched so many people's lives; so, to say see will be missed is a VAST understatement.

Coach Yow and I share a connection that I did not know about until a few months ago. We both were born on March 14.

Last year, during the month of March, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) posted on its website, 'Happy Birthday' wishes to WBCA President Beth Bass. Beth's birthday is March 14. Well, I stored that tidbit of info until I saw Beth during WBCA's National Convention (and the Women's Final Four) in April 2008. After a press conference to formally announce the creation of the WBCA Pink Zone, I mentioned to Beth my birthday is March 14; and, Beth told me Coach Yow's birthday is also March 14.

After learning that news, I approached Coach Yow and expressed my admiration for her as a woman and a coach. She thanked me. Next, I told her my birthday is March 14. Coach Yow told me it was her honor to share a birthday with me. I was stunned; but, based on what I had been told by everyone who worked with her or who had the honor of knowing her, that was Coach Yow simply being Coach Yow.

Kay Yow had a way of making you feel important -- even if you didn't feel like you were important.

God Bless You, Coach. Rest In Peace.

"What others are saying in tribute to Coach Yow"