From the UGA Sports Communications Office:

ATHENS, GA. — Legendary Georgia Lady Bulldog basketball coach Andy Landers has been elected to be inducted into the State of Georgia’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2009, the Hall of Fame announced on Thursday.

“It’s flattering because Georgia is a state that has such a storied tradition of people with outstanding athletic accomplishments,” Landers said. “It’s an honor just to be considered, and obviously I’m thrilled to be chosen.”

Landers is a four-time National Coach of the Year and was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007. He became the State of Georgia’s winningest college basketball coach with the Lady Bulldogs’ victory over Georgia Tech on Dec. 3, 2006, his 664th at UGA. On Jan. 24, 2008, he recorded his 700th win with the Lady Bulldogs, an 82-55 decision over Florida.

“As I’ve said many times, coaches often get recognition because of the success of their players and teams and certainly I understand where this recognition come from,” Landers said. “I appreciate all the people who have contributed to making this possible. I particularly appreciate that the University of Georgia, 30 years ago, gave a no-name coach with very little experience the opportunity to be a part of something as special as the University of Georgia.”

Landers is the first – and still only – full-time women’s basketball coach in the University of Georgia’s history and ranks among the sport’s most successful coaches ever. He was a relatively unknown 26-year-old with four seasons experience as a junior college head coach when he was named the Lady Bulldogs’ head coach in April 1979. Soon thereafter, Landers transformed a program that might not have been one of the top five in the state of Georgia into one of the nation’s premier teams…and he’s kept UGA there for three decades.

In his second season in Athens, Landers led Georgia to the 1981 WNIT Championship. Two years later, the Lady Bulldogs advanced to the 1983 NCAA Final Four and captured their first SEC Championship. In 1985, Georgia advanced to the NCAA Championship game. Such success has become synonymous with Georgia Basketball. The Lady Bulldogs have earned bids to 25 of 27 editions of the NCAA Tournament, which ranks second nationally. Georgia has made the most of those opportunities, reaching 17 Sweet 16s, 10 Elite Eights and five Final Fours.

Landers’ players have excelled as well. Three Lady Bulldogs have earned National Player of the Year honors – Katrina McClain in 1987, Saudia Roundtree in 1996 and Kelly Miller in 2000.

McClain and former Georgia teammate Teresa Edwards helped put Lady Bulldog Basketball on the map in the mid-80s and were then the backbone of the U.S. National Team for every major international competition from 1988-96. Those efforts were highlighted at the 1996 Centennial Olympics when Edwards was the one athlete from all sports chosen to recite the Athlete’s Oath at the Opening Ceremony and McClain was one of eight U.S. athletes selected to bring the Olympic flag into that Ceremony. Edwards and McClain also are members of the State Sports Hall of Fame, being inducted in 2001 and 2005, respectively.

Lady Bulldogs also have played a major role in the formative years of professional basketball in the U.S. All told, 19 former Georgia standouts have gone on the play in the WNBA, including eight first-round draft picks in the last eight years alone.

For all the basketball successes of his players, Landers is perhaps proudest of their achievements in the classroom. All told, 51 of 53 four-year letterwinners have received their degrees from UGA, a success rate of 96.2 percent.

Landers was one of three UGA representatives in the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2009. Former men’s basketball coach Hugh Durham and Terry Hoage, an All-America and Academic All-America rover for the football team from 1980-83.

“It’s really neat that Hugh Durham, one of the people who has been one of the most significant influences during my coach career, is going into the Hall of Fame at the same time,” Landers said. “I look forward to rejoining him – after having coached with him for 17 years at Georgia – in something as great as this.”

Other inductees include: former state high school football star Milton A. Byard; former world renowned boxing referee Mills Lane; former Macon and Mississippi State basketball standout Jeff Malone; former college and professional football players George Rose and Shannon Sharpe; and former college and pro basketball player Roman Turmon.

“Once again our selection committees have made very good choices,” said GSHF Executive Director Jacquelyn Decell. “The talent represented in the class of 2009 is overwhelming. Right now, I have the best job around as I call each of our new inductees to inform them of their selection.”

(Photo courtesy of Georgia Sports Communications)