Equity campaign for high schools

Betty F. Jaynes, longtime chief executive officer of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), has announced that she will retire November 1.

A co-founder of the WBCA who has been at its helm for nearly 19 years, Jaynes also has served on numerous NCAA committees.

She will be honored for her accomplishments at the WBCA convention, held this year in Philadelphia in conjunction with the NCAA Women's Final Four.

"I have been blessed with the greatest job in America," Jaynes said. "The WBCA has given me the opportunity to work with the best people in women's basketball -- the coaches. I will continue to work and support women's basketball with new endeavors and opportunities."

A Georgia native, Jaynes was a two-year team captain and all-state selection at Newton County High School. She graduated from Georgia College & State University with a bachelor's degree in physical education, and she earned a master's degree in physical education from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro.

She taught physical education and was the head women's basketball coach at Madison College (later renamed James Madison University) from 1970 to 1982, when she left for the WBCA.

During her tenure with the WBCA, Jaynes was the recipient of the Women's Sports Foundation President's Award in 1991 and 1996, and she also was inducted into the national Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tennessee, in June.

"We are very proud of everything Betty Jaynes has done for this organization," said WBCA President Theresa Grentz, women's basketball coach at the University of Illinois, Champaign. "The coaches of women's and girl's basketball at every level have benefited from the contributions Betty has made to the coaching profession and to our sport."

Jaynes' contributions to women's basketball will not be overlooked.

"She has always been in the forefront representing and fighting battles for women's basketball coaches on all levels across America," said Sylvia Hatchell, WBCA past-president and head women's basketball coach at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

"As coaches, we take so much for granted that would not have been here for us if it were not for Betty Jaynes."

The WBCA has announced that Beth Bass, current WBCA executive director, will be promoted to chief executive officer when Jaynes' retirement is official.

Back-to-back times two

There's no place like home for The University of Texas, Pan American, baseball team -- home runs, that is. The Broncs smacked four consecutive round-trippers in the bottom of the fourth inning of a recent game against Western Illinois University, tying the mark for the second-most consecutive home runs in NCAA Division I history.

The only team to hit more consecutive home runs was the 1998 Eastern Illinois squad, which hit five in a row against Morehead State University. Five other teams have hit at least four straight, with the 1987 Brigham Young University team accomplishing the feat most recently.

"In 30 years as a player, assistant coach and head coach, I've never seen it happen," said Broncs head coach Reggie Tredaway of the four consecutive homers.

The barrage started with Caleb Schmidt's homer to left field, then Dustin Haas, Darren Heinrichs and Gabe de la Garza followed with three more.

Jesse Gutierrez and Oziel Ortiz pounded two more home runs for Texas-Pan American in the sixth inning, tying the school's single-game home run record.

The Broncs won the game, 21-3.

A day for student-athletes

On April 6, universities and high schools across the nation will again celebrate National Student-Athlete Day.

The day honors those student-athletes who have achieved excellence in academics and athletics, while making significant contributions to their schools and their communities.

Now in its 13th year, the celebration was created by the National Consortium for Academics and Sports (NCAS) and Northeastern University's Center for the Study of Sport in Society. The celebration also is co-sponsored by the NCAA and the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Colleges and universities may still participate in this year's event. Certificates are available from the NCAS at no cost, and they may be given by the individual institution to those student-athletes who have achieved a 3.000 grade-point average or better and have participated in community service activities.

For more information or to order free certificates for your institution, contact Suzi Katz, director of the NCAS Southeast Region and coordinator of National Student-Athlete Day.

Number crunching

1999-00 Division I
Women's Basketball
Most-Improved Teams

Through games of March 12 (before postseason play)

99-00 98-99

Southwest

Bethune-