More than 1,000 people visited Reynolds Coliseum Wednesday night to attend

an event dedicated to paying tribute to late women’s basketball coach Kay

Yow.

Yow, who passed away Saturday morning after battling cancer for more than 20

years, is the only head coach in the history of the women’s basketball

program.

Students, faculty, staff, fans and former players all attended Wednesday

night’s event.

Athletic Director Lee Fowler said Yow’s legacy of service to the University

will be remembered.

“Coach Yow was a leader, teacher, a Christian, a fighter and a mother

figure,” Fowler said. “She told me once she was convinced that 10 percent of

what happens to you couldn’t be controlled and 90 percent is what you could

control. That depended on your attitude. Kay Yow was always positive.”

The tribute, which lasted a little more than an hour, began with the women’s

basketball coaches and team placing flowers in Yow’s seat at the end of the

bench.

A moment of silence and prayer followed before Fowler and Chancellor James

Oblinger spoke to the crowd.

Acapella group Grains of Time also sang prior to the events opening.

During his remarks, Oblinger said Yow’s career at N.C. State and battle with

cancer, which she was first diagnosed with in 1987, inspired many.

“Her legacy goes well beyond the hardwood floor,” he said. “She used her

talent not for personal gain, but to help other people. Her commitment to

serving others set her apart, from everyone.”

Following remarks from Fowler, Oblinger and assistant basketball coach Jenny

Palmateer, the crowd viewed an 18-minute video highlighting Yow’s career at

the University.

The crowd gave Yow a standing ovation following the video.

Interim head coach Stephanie Glance said she has looked up to Yow well

before she came to coach with her. Glance said her admiration began when she

attended a basketball camp in Raleigh when she was 13 years old.

“When I was a kid I used to look up to her and say ‘wow’,” Glance said.

“When I grew up, coach Yow was still on a pedastal.”

Glance also said her time as a coach made her appreciate Yow even more.

“I have been truly blessed to have been working with her and having a part

in her life for the last 15 years,” she said. “I thank God for that

everyday.”

Joy Frankoff, who played for Yow from 1975-1978 and attended Wednesday’s

event, said Yow had a special connection with every player she coached.

“Coach Yow has made an imprint on everyone of our lives and she is an

amazing remarkable woman,” she said. “We are the people we are today because

of the connection we have to coach Yow. Coach Yow runs through all of our

veins.”

Chris Hathcock, a senior in aerospace engineering, said he was glad he had

the opportunity to attend the event.

“It was great for the University to show how much coach Yow meant to us,” he

said. “I’m just really glad and blessed to have been able to have three and

a half years with her. She embodied everything that is N.C. State. She’ll be

missed, but we’ll never forget her.”

Fowler summed up Yow’s role simply.

“She was N.C. State through and through,” he said.