INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Fever Head Coach Marianne Stanley was selected for induction into the 2022 Class of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame today.
The Class of 2022 will be enshrined during festivities in Springfield, Mass., the Birthplace of Basketball, on September 9-10, 2022.
“Being selected for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an incredible honor,” Stanley said. “I am truly humbled to be recognized for my life’s work as a coach, and included as a member of the Class of 2022.”
Stanley is joined by two-time NBA All-Star and four-time NBA champion Manu Ginobili, five-time NBA All-Star Tim Hardaway, two-time NCAA National Coach of the Year Bob Huggins, the NBA’s sixth-winningest coach of all-time George Karl, longtime NBA referee Hugh Evans, three-time WNBA Champion, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Lindsay Whalen, four-time WNBA All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Swin Cash in this year’s class.
Lou Hudson from the Veterans Committee, Larry Costello and Del Harris from the Contributor Committee, Theresa Shank-Grentz from the Women’s Veterans Committee and Radivoj Korac from the International Committee also will be enshrined.
“Marianne Stanley is one of those special individuals whose legacy, when it is all said and done, will be measured not only by her on-court success, but by the sheer number of players and coaches she has impacted along the way,” Pacers Sports & Entertainment CEO Rick Fuson said. “She is a remarkable leader and brilliant tactician, and we are so proud she is part of our basketball family. Congratulations, Coach Stanley, on this immensely well-deserved honor.”
Stanley’s 45-year coaching career throughout the collegiate and professional ranks includes 22 years as a college coach with Old Dominion (1977-1987), Penn (1987-1989), USC (1989-1993), Stanford (1995-1996) and Cal (1995-1996), Stanley compiled a 416-222 (.652) record, including a NCAA National Championship in 1985, three Final Four appearances (1983, 1985, 1996) and back-to-back AIAW National Titles (1979-1980). She has accumulated numerous Coach of the Year honors, including AIAW National Coach of the Year (1979), Virginia Coach of the Year (1979, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985), Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year (1984, 1985), Pac-10 Conference Coach of the Year (1993) and WNBA Coach of the Year (2002). On the national team level, she helped lead the United States to a Goodwill Games Gold Medal (1983) and FIBA World Championship Gold Medal (1986). Stanley has been enshrined in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (2002) and the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame (2010).
“As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX and its global impact, it is only fitting Marianne Stanley also be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame the same year,” Fever President Dr. Allison Barber said. “Because of her commitment and contributions to women’s basketball, Marianne will be celebrated as an iconic representative for the game of basketball.”
Stanley’s collegiate coaching journey led her to coach fellow Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees Nancy Lieberman, Anne Donovan, Lisa Leslie, as well as Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame member Inge Nissen. Highlighted by Lieberman, Donovan and Leslie, Stanley has also coached six Olympians during her career, including Medina Dixon, Christine Critelli and Janice Trombly.
“Congratulations to Indiana Fever Head Coach Marianne Stanley. Induction into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame is the ultimate honor,” Fever Interim General Manager Lin Dunn said. “Marianne has been a champion as a player at Immaculata; as a coach at Old Dominion; and as a Coach with the Washington Mystics. She will always be a significant part of the growth of women’s basketball.”