HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5028 Offered April 19, 2006 Commending Jim Larranaga. ----------
Patrons-- Bulova, Scott, J.M., Albo, Alexander, Amundson, Armstrong, BaCote, Barlow, Bell, Bowling, Brink, Byron, Callahan, Caputo, Carrico, Cline, Cole, Cosgrove, Cox, Crockett-Stark, Dance, Dudley, Ebbin, Eisenberg, Englin, Fralin, Frederick, Gear, Gilbert, Griffith, Hall, Hamilton, Hogan, Howell, A.T., Hugo, Hull, Iaquinto, Ingram, Janis, Joannou, Jones, D.C., Kilgore, Landes, Lewis, Lingamfelter, Lohr, Marsden, Marshall, D.W., Marshall, R.G., May, McClellan, McEachin, McQuigg, Melvin, Miller, Moran, Morgan, Nixon, Nutter, O'Bannon, Oder, Orrock, Peace, Phillips, Plum, Poisson, Purkey, Putney, Rapp, Reid, Rust, Saxman, Scott, E.T., Shannon, Sherwood, Sickles, Spruill, Suit, Tata, Toscano, Tyler, Valentine, Waddell, Ward, Wardrup, Ware, O., Ware, R.L., Watts, Welch, Wittman and Wright; Senators: Bell, Blevins, Chichester, Colgan, Cuccinelli, Deeds, Devolites Davis, Edwards, Hanger, Hawkins, Herring, Houck, Howell, Lambert, Lucas, Marsh, Martin, McDougle, Miller, Newman, Norment, Obenshain, O'Brien, Potts, Puckett, Puller, Quayle, Reynolds, Ruff, Saslaw, Stolle, Stosch, Ticer, Wagner, Watkins, Whipple and Williams
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WHEREAS, Jim Larranaga, head coach of the George Mason University men’s basketball team, received the 2006 Clair Bee Coach of the Year Award; the award, presented by the Basketball Hall of Fame and Chip Hilton Sports, was announced during the NCAA Final Four festivities at the annual Hall of Fame Family Brunch on April 3, 2006; and

WHEREAS, Jim Larranaga was chosen from an esteemed group of the nation's most prestigious men's college basketball coaches; and

WHEREAS, established in 1997, the coveted award is named after Clair Bee, a Hall of Fame coach who exemplified the best in coaching in leadership, technical skill, and development of individual athletes, and is given to an active Division I coach who has made the most significant contribution to the sport of men's basketball during the year; and

WHEREAS, an impressive Clair Bee award winner, Jim Larranaga graduated from Providence College in 1971 with a degree in economics and was an outstanding four-year letterman and captain who led his team to a 20-8 record and a National Invitational Tournament (NIT) appearance; he was inducted into the Providence College Hall of Fame in 1991; and

WHEREAS, before joining George Mason University (Mason) as head coach in 1997, Jim Larranaga was an assistant coach at Davidson College from 1971 to 1976, a player/coach at the Geronemo Basketball Club in Belgium in 1977, head coach at American International College from 1977 to 1979, an assistant coach at the University of Virginia (UVA) from 1979 to 1986, and head coach at Bowling Green State University from 1986 to 1997; as an assistant coach for Terry Holland at UVA for seven seasons, he helped the Cavaliers reach the NCAA Final Four in 1981 and 1984; and

WHEREAS, highly regarded as a players' coach, Jim Larranaga has been an extraordinary mentor to his players, skillfully nurturing excellence in their athletic development and instilling a superior team work ethic; and

WHEREAS, an exemplary leader and inspirational head coach, Jim Larranaga has received numerous awards while at Mason, including Coach of the Year by the CAA and the National Association of Basketball Coaches District 4, as well as Coach of the Year by the Virginia Sports Information Directors; and

WHEREAS, during his tenure, Jim Larranaga has built a prominent Mason men's basketball program and his Patriots have made five postseason appearances, including two Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) championship wins; and

WHEREAS, widely respected for his innovative leadership and technical skill, Jim Larranaga has amassed a 166-105 record in his nine years at Mason, an achievement which is foremost among all Patriot head coaches; and

WHEREAS, over the past eight seasons, the Patriots have had the best regular-season record in the CAA at 97-41 and have an outstanding 89-14 mark at the Patriot Center, which includes a 12-1 record in 2005-2006; and

WHEREAS, Coach Jim Larranaga and the 2005-2006 Patriots' achievements are stunning, satisfying, and memorable, and include advancing to the NCAA tournament for the third time in eight years, a new season record of 27 wins, the first No. 11 seed to make it to the Final Four in 20 years, and a masterful defeat of two highly competitive top-10 teams in Connecticut and North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, by impressively advancing to the Final Four, Jim Larranaga and an immensely talented Patriot team made an amazing first NCAA tournament journey for which they will be forever proud, as well as acclaimed in college basketball history; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend and congratulate Jim Larranaga as the worthy recipient of the 2006 Clair Bee Coach of the Year Award; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Jim Larranaga as an expression of the General Assembly’s appreciation of his many superb accomplishments as head coach, an exciting 2005-2006 George Mason University men's basketball season, and an unforgettable NCAA tournament.