The most influential person on campus is out of coaching. And unfortunately, this time it could be for good.
While I have moved on after more than four years with Technician, spending time with women’s basketball coach Kay Yow is still my favorite memory of working for the newspaper.
During my time with Technician, I covered every aspect of the team for more than three years. Not only that, I spent numerous hours in Yow’s office talking about basketball and items completely unrelated to basketball.
She was different from any coach I’d ever talked to. She would look at me and ask how I was doing.
She would invite you into her own office, and personally walk you back to her office from the lobby. Other coaches don’t do that.
After covering her team for a while and becoming more intrigued with Yow and her team, I began to frequently visit the women’s basketball office and Yow.
During one visit, she pulled out a photo album that contained photos of former players. She sat with me and shuffled through the photos, smiling the whole time and stumbling from memory to memory.
“There are the Cowhers,” Yow said while looking at the photos of Bill, Kaye, Yow’s former player and their three daughters.
Her office is littered with memories — from pictures of her with influential figures, to Final Four trophies, to coaching awards and to pictures from when she led the United States’ Olympic team to gold in 1988.
She has memories of former coach Jim Valvano everywhere. She loves to tell stories about her and three “cigar-smoking” Italians – Valvano, Bob Guzzo and Sam Esposito.
During her team’s Sweet 16 run in 2007, I was lucky enough to travel with Yow and the team. I spent countless hours around the veteran coach and her team during that run. Her charm wasn’t just with the media – every player, coach and fan loved to be around Yow.
Before every bus ride, Yow took the front seat and every player smiled and greeted their coach. Many players would bend over to hug the coach while others grinned, said “hey coach” and went about their business.
She took on every interview with a smile during that trip, while constantly taking breaks to get water and check out her health. Her fingernails were frail and yellow. She had a nurse and a doctor with her constantly. And she needed help to stand up. But not one moment did she frown at anything that came her way.
Following the 2007-08 season, nearly a year after the Fresno trip, I was in her office again for another interview. I had recently learned that my grandfather had been diagnosed with cancer. And one of the first people I thought of was Yow. I wanted to approach her and ask for encouraging words that I could send my grandfather’s way.
As I sat there in her office, I brought it up.
Without hesitation, Yow began to search for something to sign. From there, she pulled out one of her “I Will, Not Just I’ll Try” books. Then, she spent the next five minutes articulating a message that covered half of a page.
My grandfather, who according to the doctor had a prognosis that didn’t look good and didn’t have much else for the doctors to do, is still alive and has since recovered. Yow’s message was constantly a source of inspiration to him and our family. A couple days later, during a press conference, she referenced that moment with me.
She’s always been a basketball coach. But her message is much more than basketball. Her title has brought her the ability to make changes in lives all around her, even though it’s completely unrelated to basketball.
Unfortunately, this could be the end of Yow’s career — but only as a basketball coach.
I do not believe she wants it to end, though. Following the 2006-07 season, when Yow missed 16 games and returned to lead her team to a Sweet 16 appearance, I was talking with her about the season.
Many thought she wouldn’t return, but I had to ask the question about the future. Her response? Well, she was focused on her 2009-10 recruiting class.
While she could opt to return next season, it’s beginning to look like less of an option. She has already defeated the odds of living with Stage 4 cancer for as long as she has.
Wolfpack fans need to make sure that they don’t take for granted what the University has in Yow. Find a way to support Yow and everything she has done for State and for cancer patients.
Even though I now live in Knoxville, Tenn. for graduate school, I continually tell everyone around me her story. And many already know Yow. But, those who haven’t heard sure don’t forget it after it’s told.
