Senate Resolution No. 1965

BY: Senator MAY

HONORING Coach Felisha Legette-Jack upon the
occasion of her designation for special recognition
by the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) as the 2024
Women's Basketball Coach of the Year on March 5,
2024

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commend those
notable citizens of our State, who have achieved extraordinary success
and achieved incredible career milestones, and who have distinguished
themselves and their universities through their personal and
professional achievements; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Coach Felisha Legette-Jack upon the occasion of her designation for
special recognition by the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) as the 2024
Women's Basketball Coach of the Year on Tuesday, March 5, 2024; and

WHEREAS, Felisha Legette-Jack is the current head coach of the
Syracuse University women's basketball team and is the first Syracuse
coach, men's or women's, to earn ACC Coach of the Year honors in
basketball; she also is the third Syracuse women's basketball head coach
to be named Coach of the Year in their conference; and

WHEREAS, A highly-skilled athlete, Felisha Legette-Jack began her
career in basketball playing for the University of Georgia's Lady
Bulldogs, leading them to two state titles before going on to star at
Syracuse University; playing for Syracuse, she scored 1,526 points,
grabbed 927 rebounds, and graduated as the all-time leading scorer and
rebounder in program history; as of 2021, she ranked fifth in scoring
and third in rebounds; and

WHEREAS, As a testament to her talent and dedication, Felisha
Legette-Jack was the 1985 Big East Rookie of the Year, all-league player
three times, and was the recipient of a LetterWinner of Distinction
Award; she was inducted into the Syracuse Hall of Fame in 1998 and
Syracuse University retired her basketball jersey (No. 33) in November
2021, becoming the first women's basketball player at Syracuse to have
her number retired, and one of the first three female athletes to have
their uniforms retired by the Orange; and

WHEREAS, Previously serving as the head coach at the University at
Buffalo, Indiana University, and Hofstra University's women's basketball
teams, as well as the assistant coach of the U19 team representing the
United States at the 2005 FIBA Americas U19 Championship for Women in
Tunis, Tunisia, Felisha Legette-Jack brings the Syracuse University
women's basketball team her energy, passion, and talent; she has truly
transformed the program in her short time as head coach; and

WHEREAS, A Syracuse native, Felisha Legette-Jack inherited the
Syracuse University women's basketball team after they had just
completed one of its worst seasons in over a decade with a depleted

roster; in her first season as head coach, the Orange won 20 games and
reached the Super 16 of the Women's NIT; and

WHEREAS, Proud to return to her alma mater, Felisha Legette-Jack has
led the Syracuse University women's basketball team to a tremendous
amount of success in her two years serving as head coach; she has led
the Orange to unprecedented success in their regular season, tying
program records for regular season wins (23), conference wins (13), and
ACC road wins (6); and

WHEREAS, Her dedication to honing the skills of these dedicated
athletes has paid off, as the Syracuse University women's basketball
team has an impressive record of 23-6 overall and went 13-5 in the ACC,
earning the No. 3 seed in the Ally ACC Women's Basketball Tournament;
and

WHEREAS, Guiding the Syracuse University women's basketball team
into the spotlight, Felisha Legette-Jack led the team to a third-place
finish in the Nation's best league in her second season on The Hill;
Syracuse is 4-1 against Associated Press Top-25 teams and currently
ranks No. 20; the Orange are currently projected as the fifth seed in
the NCAA Tournament and the team will be making its first appearance
since 2021; and

WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an
individual for the benefit of others which Felisha Legette-Jack has
displayed throughout her life; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Coach Felisha Legette-Jack upon the occasion of her designation
for special recognition by the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) as the
2024 Women's Basketball Coach of the Year on March 5, 2024; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Coach Felisha Legette-Jack.