Lilburn, Georgia (March 12, 2003) --The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) has announced Marsha Sharp as the winner of its Carol Eckman Award.

The Carol Eckman Award is presented annually to an active WBCA coach who exemplifies Eckman’s spirit, integrity and character through sportsmanship, commitment to the student-athlete, honesty, ethical behavior, courage and dedication to purpose. The award is named in honor of the late Carol Eckman, the former West Chester State College coach who is considered the “Mother of the Women’s Collegiate Basketball Championship.” Eckman organized the first women’s basketball championship at West Chester in 1969, and continued to garner recognition and support for the women’s game until her death from cancer in 1985.

"Marsha has been a role model and mentor to countless people throughout the course of her coaching career. She has demonstrated impeccable sportsmanship, character and commitment to her student-athletes," said WBCA Chief Executive Officer Beth Bass.

Sharp, current president of the WBCA, has had tremendous success as the head coach at Texas Tech. A milestone she accomplished this year was winning her 500th game on February 19th against Oklahoma, becoming the 22nd NCAA Division I women's coach to reach the 500-victory mark. Texas Tech is having a solid season at 23-4, and they finish the regular season on Thursday against Kansas State. Sharp led Texas Tech to a National Championship in 1993; a feat she would love to repeat in 2003.

The Texas Tech coach will receive her award at the Jostens-Berenson Awards Luncheon on Saturday, April 5, at 12 p.m. at the Georgia World Congress Center. The Jostens-Berenson Awards Luncheon is part of the 2003 WBCA National Convention held in conjunction with the NCAA Division I Women’s Final Four in Atlanta, Ga.

Now in its 18th year, the Carol Eckman Award has recognized the following individuals in women’s basketball: Barbara Stevens, Bentley College (2002);Juliene Simpson, East Stroudsburg University (2001); Kathy Delaney-Smith, Harvard University (2000); Susan Summons, Miami Dade (Fla.) Community College (1999); Kay James, Southern Mississippi (1998); Amy Ruley, North Dakota State University (1997); Dr. Joann Rutherford, University of Missouri (1996); Ceal Barry, University of Colorado (1995); Sue Gunter, Louisiana State University (1994); C. Vivian Stringer, University of Iowa (1993); Jill Hutchison, Illinois State University (1992); Marian Washington, University of Kansas (1991); Maryalyce Jerimiah, Cal State Fullerton (1990); Linda HillMacDonald,Temple University (1989); Kay Yow, North Carolina State University (1988); Jody Conradt, University of Texas (1987), and Laura Mapp, Bridgewater College(1986).

Founded in 1981, the WBCA promotes women’s basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game in all of its aspects as an amateur sport for women and girls. For more information about the WBCA please check our website at www.wbca.org.