Bill Fennelly
Encyclopedia
Bill Fennelly is the head women's basketball
coach at Iowa State University
. He is the dean of the Big 12 and is considered by many to be one of the best women's basketball coaches in the nation. He has an all time coaching record of 503-202 (thru 11/26/10), coming from tenures as the head coach of the Toledo Rockets
and the Iowa State Cyclones
. In March 2007, Fennelly inked a "lifetime" contract with the Cyclones to continue as head coach for the remainder of his career.
to a record of 337-149 (thru 11/26/10) in the fifteen years since being named head coach of the Cyclones in 1995, giving the Cyclones the second best overall record since the founding of the Big 12 Conference
(Texas Tech
is first). The program had only 5 winning seasons in 22 years of play prior to his arrival. His Cyclone teams have reached the NCAA Tournament 11 times, including NCAA Elite Eight appearances in 1999 and 2009, and NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearances in 2000, 2001, and 2010.
Iowa State has spent considerable time in the Associated Press
national poll, including 34 weeks in the Top 10. In just 11 seasons, he posted more than twice as many conference wins as the program had in all of its previous years combined. He has also guided the Cyclones to a 202-34 home-court record, including a 99-3 record against non-conference opponents (thru 11/26/10).
In the Cyclones’ inaugural WNIT
appearance, Fennelly coached ISU to the Final Four. His teams have drawn record-setting crowds of loyal fans into Hilton Coliseum
. ISU’s attendance average ranked among the top 11 schools nationally in each of the last eight seasons and the Cyclones enjoyed their first-ever sellout crowd in a 2004 WNIT/NIT doubleheader against Saint Joseph's. In both 2009 and 2010, the Cyclones' home attendance ranked 3rd in the nation at over 9,700 fans per game, ranking behind only powerhouses Tennessee and Connecticut.
Fennelly is the only ISU
coach to turn in 14 winning seasons and owns the program’s best winning percentage (.692). His phenomenal accomplishments at Iowa State have been recognized nationally. He is a three-time finalist for the Naismith Coach of the Year Award
(2001, 2002, 2005). His peers voted him WBCA District 5 Coach of the Year twice (1999, 2005) and he finished as the 1998 runner-up to Tennessee
’s Pat Summitt
in The Associated Press’ Women’s Coach of the Year balloting.
, where he compiled a seven-year record of 166-53 (.758). His list of accomplishments at Toledo included six 20-plus win seasons, six postseason tournament berths in seven years and one of the top records in the nation over that span. Fennelly coached the Rockets
to second, third- and fifth-place finishes in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT
) and three NCAA Tournament appearances. Fennelly was one of seven inductees selected to the 2003 Toledo Varsity "T" Hall of Fame.
, graduated from William Penn College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and economics in 1979. He and his wife, Deb, have two sons, Billy and Steven. In June 2010, Billy was named director of player development for the Cyclones. He had been the Women's Director of Basketball Operations at Northwestern University
under head coach Joe McKeown, and married former Cyclone basketball player Lyndsey Medders in the spring of 2009.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
coach at Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
. He is the dean of the Big 12 and is considered by many to be one of the best women's basketball coaches in the nation. He has an all time coaching record of 503-202 (thru 11/26/10), coming from tenures as the head coach of the Toledo Rockets
Toledo Rockets
The Toledo Rockets are the athletic teams that represent the University of Toledo. The Rockets are a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision team in the National Collegiate Athletic Association and play in the Mid-American Conference . The school's colors are midnight blue and gold.Toledo's...
and the Iowa State Cyclones
Iowa State Cyclones
The Iowa State Cyclones are the athletic teams of Iowa State University. The university is a member of the Big 12 Conference and competes in NCAA Division I, fielding 16 varsity teams in 12 sports.*Men's sports...
. In March 2007, Fennelly inked a "lifetime" contract with the Cyclones to continue as head coach for the remainder of his career.
Iowa State University
Fennelly has guided the CyclonesIowa State Cyclones
The Iowa State Cyclones are the athletic teams of Iowa State University. The university is a member of the Big 12 Conference and competes in NCAA Division I, fielding 16 varsity teams in 12 sports.*Men's sports...
to a record of 337-149 (thru 11/26/10) in the fifteen years since being named head coach of the Cyclones in 1995, giving the Cyclones the second best overall record since the founding of the Big 12 Conference
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
(Texas Tech
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
is first). The program had only 5 winning seasons in 22 years of play prior to his arrival. His Cyclone teams have reached the NCAA Tournament 11 times, including NCAA Elite Eight appearances in 1999 and 2009, and NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearances in 2000, 2001, and 2010.
Iowa State has spent considerable time in the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
national poll, including 34 weeks in the Top 10. In just 11 seasons, he posted more than twice as many conference wins as the program had in all of its previous years combined. He has also guided the Cyclones to a 202-34 home-court record, including a 99-3 record against non-conference opponents (thru 11/26/10).
In the Cyclones’ inaugural WNIT
WNIT
WNIT is the PBS member television station for South Bend, Indiana. Its studios are located in South Bend. WNIT broadcasts on digital channel 35 ....
appearance, Fennelly coached ISU to the Final Four. His teams have drawn record-setting crowds of loyal fans into Hilton Coliseum
Hilton Coliseum
James H. Hilton Coliseum is a 14,356-seat multi-purpose arena in Ames, Iowa. The arena opened in 1971. It is home to the Iowa State University Cyclones men's and women's basketball teams, wrestling, gymnastics and volleyball teams.-Overview:...
. ISU’s attendance average ranked among the top 11 schools nationally in each of the last eight seasons and the Cyclones enjoyed their first-ever sellout crowd in a 2004 WNIT/NIT doubleheader against Saint Joseph's. In both 2009 and 2010, the Cyclones' home attendance ranked 3rd in the nation at over 9,700 fans per game, ranking behind only powerhouses Tennessee and Connecticut.
Fennelly is the only ISU
ISU
ISU may refer to:* International System of Unit* ISU-152, ISU-122, Soviet self-propelled guns* Integrated Security Unit* International Skating Union* International Seamen's Union* International Stereoscopic Union* Independent Study Unit...
coach to turn in 14 winning seasons and owns the program’s best winning percentage (.692). His phenomenal accomplishments at Iowa State have been recognized nationally. He is a three-time finalist for the Naismith Coach of the Year Award
Naismith College Coach of the Year
Naismith College Coach of the Year Award is an award given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to one men's and one women's NCAA Division I collegiate coach each season since 1987...
(2001, 2002, 2005). His peers voted him WBCA District 5 Coach of the Year twice (1999, 2005) and he finished as the 1998 runner-up to Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
’s Pat Summitt
Pat Summitt
Patricia "Pat" Head Summitt is an American women's college basketball coach. She is currently the head coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team. She is the all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history of either a men's or women's team in any division...
in The Associated Press’ Women’s Coach of the Year balloting.
University of Toledo
Fennelly came to ISU from the University of ToledoUniversity of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:...
, where he compiled a seven-year record of 166-53 (.758). His list of accomplishments at Toledo included six 20-plus win seasons, six postseason tournament berths in seven years and one of the top records in the nation over that span. Fennelly coached the Rockets
Toledo Rockets
The Toledo Rockets are the athletic teams that represent the University of Toledo. The Rockets are a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision team in the National Collegiate Athletic Association and play in the Mid-American Conference . The school's colors are midnight blue and gold.Toledo's...
to second, third- and fifth-place finishes in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT
WNIT
WNIT is the PBS member television station for South Bend, Indiana. Its studios are located in South Bend. WNIT broadcasts on digital channel 35 ....
) and three NCAA Tournament appearances. Fennelly was one of seven inductees selected to the 2003 Toledo Varsity "T" Hall of Fame.
Other coaching experience
Before accepting his first head coaching job at Toledo, Fennelly spent 12 years coaching as an assistant at William Penn, Fresno State, and Notre Dame.Personal
Fennelly, a native of Davenport, IowaDavenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
, graduated from William Penn College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and economics in 1979. He and his wife, Deb, have two sons, Billy and Steven. In June 2010, Billy was named director of player development for the Cyclones. He had been the Women's Director of Basketball Operations at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
under head coach Joe McKeown, and married former Cyclone basketball player Lyndsey Medders in the spring of 2009.