Naismith Award names Denny Crum its 2016 Outstanding Contributor to Men's Basketball

Awesome news and a much-deserved honor for coach Crum. Here's the press release from the Naismith Award people:

Hall of Fame coaches Denny Crum and Andy Landers were named the 2016 Naismith Outstanding Contributors to Men's and Women's Basketball, respectively, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Friday. The awards are delivered by UPS.

First presented in 1982 to Curt Gowdy, the Naismith Outstanding Contributor to Basketball Award is presented annually to individuals whose extraordinary efforts have made contributions of outstanding significance and have created a long‐lasting positive impact on the game of basketball. The recipients display character, integrity and dignity, and have contributed mightily to the growth, success and viability of basketball. Voted on by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Directors, Crum and Landers will be honored this fall.

"I am deeply honored to receive this very prestigious award," said Crum. "To be included with the names of prior recipients, it is an honor for me. These are truly the icons of college basketball. "

"It is indeed an honor of the highest order to be recognized by the Atlanta Tipoff Club and humbling to be named as a Naismith Outstanding Contributor," said Landers. "I have long admired the leadership role the Atlanta Tipoff Club has taken in both promoting our sport and recognizing outstanding achievements. Knowing hat this award is presented by basketballs' most respected organization makes it even more meaningful."

"These two individuals have positively impacted the sport of basketball in countless ways," said Eric Oberman, Atlanta Tipoff Club executive director. "Their tremendous accomplishments and exceptional character have set the standard for excellent coaches. We are proud to salute the phenomenal careers of both Denny and Andy, and recognize them as Naismith Award winners."

About Denny Crum:

--Played basketball at Los Angeles Pierce College before transferring to UCLA in 1956. Later coached at Pierce before joining John Wooden as the top assistant coach and chief recruiter at UCLA.

--A year after taking over the University of Louisville's men's program, Crum led the Cardinals to the NCAA Final Four, where they lost to John Wooden's UCLA team.

--Led Louisville to five more Final Fours (1975, 1980, 1982, 1983, and 1986). He is tied for sixth all-time in number of Final Four appearances.

--Won two NCAA championships (1980 and 1986) - one of 11 coaches to achieve two or more titles.

--Took the Cardinals to 23 NCAA tournaments in 30 seasons, where they had an overall record of 43-21. In its 19 years of naming a champion, the Metro Conference had Louisville as first or second place 17 times.

--In 1993, Crum became the second fastest coach to reach 500 wins and finished with a record of 675-295. He ranks 16th in overall Division I wins.

--Coached the 1977 USA World University Team, where he won a gold medal. In 1987, he coached the Pan American team to a silver medal.

--Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1994 and the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.

About Andy Landers:

--The University of Georgia's first full-time women's basketball head coach, who took over a struggling program that had compiled a 37-85 record in its first six seasons of intercollegiate play.

--Proceeded to lead UGA to 36 consecutive winning seasons, including 29 20-win campaigns, 17 25-win efforts and three 30-win squads.

--Led Georgia to 17 top-10 finishes in either or both of the final AP or USA Today polls.

--Four-time National Coach of the Year - 1986 (USBWA); 1987 (WBB News Service); 1996 (Naismith); and 2000 (USBWA).

--One of seven basketball coaches with 850 wins at one Division I school, alongside women's coaches Pat Summitt and Geno Auriemma, and men's coaches Jim Boeheim, Mike Krzyzewski, Dean Smith and Adolph Rupp.

--In 2013, became the fourth major college women's hoops coach to reach 900 career wins.

--Led Georgia to bids to 31 of 34 NCAA Tournaments - (second-best nationally) - 21 Sweet 16s, 11 Elite Eights and five Final Fours (1983, 1985, 1995, 1996, 1999); NCAA runner-up finishes in 1985 and 1996; 7 SEC Championships - (1983, 1984, 1986, 1991, 1996, 1997, 2000); 4 SEC Tournament Championships - (1983, 1984, 1986, 2001); coached three National Players of the year - Katrina McClain (1987), Saudia Roundtree (1996) and Kelly Miller (2000).

--At his retirement in 2015, Coach Landers finished 862-299 (.742) in 36 seasons at UGA and 944-320 (.747) in 40 seasons overall.