Vanderbilt University Register: State lawmakers recognize Commodores

Basketball team honored; search continues for new coach

Photo by Neil Brake

Chancellor Gordon Gee (left) joined student athletes Abi Ramsey (from left), Hillary Hager, Ashley McElhiney and Candice Storey at Capitol Hill May 1. Sen. Roy Herron (podium), and Rep. Edith Langster (third from right), addressed the Legislature.

by Skip Anderson and Alex Burkett

The Tennessee General Assembly passed a resolution in honor of the Vanderbilt women's basketball team May 1.

The joint resolution, sponsored by Rep. Edith Langster (D-Nashville) and Sen. Douglas Henry (D-Nashville), celebrated "those gifted student athletes who ... bring honor to Tennessee and serve as exceptional ambassadors of this state." The document focused on the team's recent SEC Women's Basketball Tournament championship and accomplishment in advancing to the "Elite Eight" in the 2002 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.

It specifically recognizes outstanding players and Coach Jim Foster, who left the team this spring to head up the women's basketball program at Ohio State University.

Chancellor Gordon Gee accompanied Vanderbilt players Ashley McElhiney, Hillary Hager, Abi Ramsey and Candice Storey to the state Capitol for the reading of the resolution, according to Tammy Boclair, assistant director for media relations in the Department of Athletics.

The group traveled first to the House chamber, then to the Senate, for formal reading and passage of the resolutions.

"It was exciting because a lot of the senators were coming up to the girls [for photo opportunities]," Boclair said. "It was a fabulous opportunity for them to go."

The group met with Gov. Don Sundquist in his office after the reading of the resolution, she said.

Last week's resolution marks the latest in a series of legislative recognitions of Vanderbilt's academic and athletic programs. Two years ago, the body passed a resolution honoring a new academic program and major focused on science writing.

Meanwhile, the search continues for Vanderbilt's next women's basketball head coach. Tom Collen, former coach at Colorado State University, declined Vanderbilt's offer for the head coach position following the discovery of an apparent discrepancy on his résumé from 1997. Collen sent a letter to Todd Turner, director of athletics, less than 24 hours after a press conference announcing Collen as Vanderbilt's new head coach.

"Given the events of the last few days, I have decided that it is not in the best interests of Vanderbilt University and my family to accept your offer," wrote Collen. "I have great respect for the character and integrity of Vanderbilt University and would not want my presence to detract from that in any way."

Turner said the search to fill the women's head coach position will continue.

"It is unfortunate that we did not have the opportunity to review the application that Coach Collen submitted to Colorado State University in 1997," said Turner. "We did validate the information he submitted to Vanderbilt was consistent with this academic record and made our offer with this understanding. ... We will continue our search immediately to find new leadership."

Gee said he appreciated Collen's decision not to accept the position.

"We have high standards for ourselves and especially for the people whom we ask to be leaders, teachers and coaches to our students," said Gee. "Tom Collen is a decent man, and I know he would not want his presence to distract from our commitment to excellence and honesty."