Kamie Ethridge
Encyclopedia
Kamie Ethridge is a former American basketball player and current basketball coach. She was an All-American point guard at the University of Texas at Austin
and won a Gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics
. She is considered one of the best women's basketball players in history and was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
in 2002. Ethridge is currently associate head coach at Kansas State University
.
, in Lubbock, Texas
. She led her team to a state championship (5A) in 1981.
. The Lady Longhorns were one of the more powerful teams in the country at the time Ethridge joined the team, and she would help strengthen that position. Ethridge arrived at Texas in 1982. Her first two years, the team earned a two seed at the 1983
and the 1984 NCAA Basketball Tournament
. In 1984, the team was strong enough to earn the number one ranking in the regular season final AP poll. The team suffered knee injuries to five key players in 1984, including injuries to center Annette Smith so severe she was in rehabilitation for well over a year. In 1985, the team would also end the season ranked number one in the poll. That year, the team went 28–3 in the regular season, and looked forward to a Final Four held at their own arena, the Erwin Center
. The Lady Longhorns were stunned by a buzzer beating shot by Western Kentucky
, and lost 92–90 in the Mideast Regional semifinals.
Despite earning lofty rankings, the team entered the 1985–86 season without having won a National Championship. Ethridge was one of six seniors, including Fran Harris
, who were in their last year of college ball with one last chance for a championship. Ethridge was considered very competitive—she once competed in a triathlon, riding the nine mile bicycle leg with a flat tire for the last three miles. The team was again ranked very high, prompting Sports Illustrated to refer to their arena as "the best little scorehouse in Texas".
That year, the team entered the tournament undefeated, and won all their tournament games, finishing the season as the first undefeated NCAA Division I women's basketball team (34–0), and National champions. Ethridge was the 1986 winner of the Honda award for basketball and the overall Honda-Broderick Cup
winner for all sports. She was also the winner of the Wade Trophy
, reflecting leadership and character in addition to athletic ability. Etheridge was the 1986 recipent of the Frances Pomeroy Naismith award, which is presented by the WBCA
annually to "the nation's most outstanding NCAA Division I female basketball player who stands 5'8" tall or under". While at Texas, she had 776 assists, setting a school record.
Ethridge was a member of the gold medal winning USA team competing in the Pan American games held in Indianapolis, Indiana during August of 1987, although she saw limited action due to a knee injury sustained in the first game. Ethridge finished her USA basketball playing career with a gold medal win in the 1988 Olympics held in Seoul, Korea
in 1990. She then moved on to Vanderbilt, and was part of the coaching staff to help the team to a 1993 Final Four appearance. She then moved on to Kansas State, first as an assistant, then as associate head coach, where she helped the team become competitive.
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
and won a Gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
. She is considered one of the best women's basketball players in history and was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame honors men and women who have contributed to the sport of women's basketball. The Hall of Fame opened in 1999 in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA...
in 2002. Ethridge is currently associate head coach at Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
.
High school
Ethridge played guard for Monterey High SchoolMonterey High School (Lubbock, Texas)
Monterey High School is a 5A high school located in central Lubbock, Texas, United States. Monterey is part of the Lubbock Independent School District. Established in 1955, Monterey was the third high school to be established in Lubbock, after Lubbock High School and Dunbar High School...
, in Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
. She led her team to a state championship (5A) in 1981.
College
Ethridge attended the University of Texas, where she played for Hall of Fame coach Jody ConradtJody Conradt
Jody Conradt is a retired women's basketball coach. She was the head coach for the women's team at University of Texas at Austin . Her coaching career spanned 38 years, with the last 31 years at UT from 1976 to 2007. She also served concurrently as the UT women's athletic director from 1992 to 2001...
. The Lady Longhorns were one of the more powerful teams in the country at the time Ethridge joined the team, and she would help strengthen that position. Ethridge arrived at Texas in 1982. Her first two years, the team earned a two seed at the 1983
1983 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1983 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament began on March 18 and concluded on April 3 with USC winning the title. The tournament consisted of 36 teams. The Final Four was held in Norfolk, Virginia and consisted of USC, Louisiana Tech, Old Dominion, and Georgia...
and the 1984 NCAA Basketball Tournament
1984 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament
-Midwest Regional - Louisiana Tech - Ruston, LA :-East Regional - Old Dominion - Norfolk, VA :-West Regional - Stanford University - Palo Alto, CA :-Final Four - Los Angeles, CA :...
. In 1984, the team was strong enough to earn the number one ranking in the regular season final AP poll. The team suffered knee injuries to five key players in 1984, including injuries to center Annette Smith so severe she was in rehabilitation for well over a year. In 1985, the team would also end the season ranked number one in the poll. That year, the team went 28–3 in the regular season, and looked forward to a Final Four held at their own arena, the Erwin Center
Frank Erwin Center
Frank C. Erwin, Jr. Special Events Center, commonly known as Frank Erwin Center or UT Erwin Center, is a multi-purpose arena on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin...
. The Lady Longhorns were stunned by a buzzer beating shot by Western Kentucky
Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University is a public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA. It was formally founded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1906, though its roots reach back a quarter-century earlier....
, and lost 92–90 in the Mideast Regional semifinals.
Despite earning lofty rankings, the team entered the 1985–86 season without having won a National Championship. Ethridge was one of six seniors, including Fran Harris
Fran Harris
Fran Harris is an American television host and former professional basketball player. She is currently the host of Home Rules, a television series on HGTV.-Early life and education:...
, who were in their last year of college ball with one last chance for a championship. Ethridge was considered very competitive—she once competed in a triathlon, riding the nine mile bicycle leg with a flat tire for the last three miles. The team was again ranked very high, prompting Sports Illustrated to refer to their arena as "the best little scorehouse in Texas".
That year, the team entered the tournament undefeated, and won all their tournament games, finishing the season as the first undefeated NCAA Division I women's basketball team (34–0), and National champions. Ethridge was the 1986 winner of the Honda award for basketball and the overall Honda-Broderick Cup
Honda-Broderick Cup
The Honda-Broderick Cup is a sports award for college-level female athletes. The awards are voted on by a national panel of more than 1000 collegiate athletic directors. It was first presented by the late Thomas Broderick, owner of a sports apparel company, in 1977, with the first award going to...
winner for all sports. She was also the winner of the Wade Trophy
Wade Trophy
The Wade Trophy is an award presented annually to the best women's basketball player in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition. It is named after three–time national champion Delta State University coach Lily Margaret Wade. The award debuted in 1978 as the first–ever...
, reflecting leadership and character in addition to athletic ability. Etheridge was the 1986 recipent of the Frances Pomeroy Naismith award, which is presented by the WBCA
Women's Basketball Coaches Association
The Women's Basketball Coaches Association is an association of coaches of women's basketball teams at all levels.The organization was formed in 1981, with the goal of addressing the needs of women's basketball coaches.The mission of the WBCA is:...
annually to "the nation's most outstanding NCAA Division I female basketball player who stands 5'8" tall or under". While at Texas, she had 776 assists, setting a school record.
USA Basketball
Ethridge played for the USA squad in Kobe, Japan in 1985. The team brought home a silver medal, after falling to the USSR. The team trailed by 18 points at one time, mounted a come-back attempt but fell short, losing 87–81. The following year, Ethridge played for the USA team at the World Championships, in Moscow. This time, the USA team would meet the USSR in the title game and emerge victorious, winning the gold medal with a score of 108–88.Ethridge was a member of the gold medal winning USA team competing in the Pan American games held in Indianapolis, Indiana during August of 1987, although she saw limited action due to a knee injury sustained in the first game. Ethridge finished her USA basketball playing career with a gold medal win in the 1988 Olympics held in Seoul, Korea
Coaching
After a brief stint playing professionally in Italy, Ethridge accepted an assistant coaching position with Illinois State UniversityIllinois State University
Illinois State University , founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois; it is located in the town of Normal. ISU is considered a "national university" that grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research; it is also recognized as one of the top ten largest...
in 1990. She then moved on to Vanderbilt, and was part of the coaching staff to help the team to a 1993 Final Four appearance. She then moved on to Kansas State, first as an assistant, then as associate head coach, where she helped the team become competitive.
Awards and honors
- 2000—University of Texas Women's Athletic Hall of Honor
- 2002—Women's Basketball Hall of Fame