Associated Press
RALEIGH ó Sylvia Hatchell worked as an assistant to Kay Yow in the Olympics and coached against her for more than 20 years in an ACC rivalry of next-door neighbor programs.
She can’t imagine what it will be like to not see her friend on the sideline for North Carolina State again.
“Her presence and competitive spirit will be greatly missed in the ACC,” the North Carolina coach said in a statement after Yow’s death Saturday following a two-decade fight against cancer. “I don’t know of anyone in the world of women’s basketball that doesn’t owe a debt of gratitude to Kay.”
Yow’s death prompted an outpouring of condolences and recollections, especially from those in the coaching community who witnessed her long battle with breast cancer. Nearly all remembered Yow’s grace and courage as she fought the debilitating effects of the disease, which she was diagnosed with in 1987 and recurred in 2004.
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For Susan Yow, there was no other option than to coach on the day her older sister finally succumbed to cancer.
Susan was certain it was no coincidence she faced off against one of the best players her sister ever coached.
Hours after Kay Yow died after a long battle with breast cancer, Susan Yow paced the sideline as usual Saturday, helping Division II Belmont Abbey rally from an 18-point deficit for a 64-62 win over rival Queens, coached by former North Carolina State star Trudi Lacey.
“It was the right thing to do,” said Yow, who stayed composed despite her moist eyes. “Kay would have wanted me to coach. I don’t think there’s any question about that.”
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Duke men’s coach, Mike Krzyzewski, who’s been active in Coaches vs. Cancer for years, credited Yow for the “amazing awareness” she brought to the fight against cancer.
“The really great thing about her was she had the courage to fight the battle in public,” Krzyzewski said after his second-ranked Blue Devils beat Maryland on Saturday. “As a result, she not only fought for her, she fought for everyone who has cancer or will have cancer and the families involved.”
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Duke women’s coach, Joanne P. McCallie, remembered Yow for her courage, particularly in how open she was as she fought cancer.
“I’ve never known a woman to share her story so eloquently under such incredible conditions,” she said. “A lot of people are afraid, they’re afraid to share their story. And Kay was never afraid.”
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As news of Yow’s death spread, several schools held a moment of silence to honor her before games, including the N.C. State-Boston College, Maryland-Duke, Tennessee-Memphis and Connecticut-Notre Dame men’s games. There was also a moment of silence before the Kansas State-Kansas women’s game, where Jayhawks coach Bonnie Henrickson described Yow as “an unbelievable presence in our profession.”
“You would try to cheer her up and 75 percent of the time, she was trying to cheer you up. It was never about her,” Henrickson said.