March 23, 2005
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (March 23, 2005) - Loyola Marymount Head Coach Julie Wilhoit will be honored at the YWCA Santa Monica/Westside's 28th annual Women of the Year dinner on Thursday, March 24th.
Wilhoit is one of four women to be selected as Women of the Year. She joins Libbie Agran, Jacqueline Caster and Jody Priselac, Ph.D. as the 2005 recipients. All honorees are leaders and role models with a passion that inspires and motivates young women. They exemplify economic and social justice, innovative philanthropy, and the empowerment of women and girls.
Wilhoit recently completed her 10th season as head coach of the Lions. In addition to her success on the court, she has been an active participant in the community. In 1996, she co-founded Sneaker Sisters, a non-profit community organization to promote sports and fitness to economically disadvantaged girls on the westside of Los Angeles. She currently serves as an honorary board member of the organization.
Along with her staff, Wilhoit developed a community service outreach program where LMU players visit elementary schools classrooms and conduct basketball clinics. Through the outreach program, young women learn that they may be basketball players for three hours a day, perhaps for the next 10 years, but they are going to be women with social responsibilities for the rest of their lives. Wilhoit has a coaching philosophy that addresses each team member not only as a student-athlete but also as a member of the greater community.
"It is wonderful to be recognized by such an amazing community organization like the YWCA. They run so many great community programs. This award is a reflection of LMU and the people I work with. This award is their award. I am honored to receive it on behalf of LMU and the players and staff associated with LMU women's basketball."
Wilhoit has been a success on the court as well. In 2003-04, she led the Lions to the WCC Championship and the NCAA Tournament, the first appearance for LMU women's basketball. She earned WCC Coach of the Year honors for the third year, and was named the WBCA Region 8 Coach of the Year. This season, she led LMU to a second place finish in the WCC and recorded her 250th career coaching victory.
For 76 years, the YWCA Santa Monica/Westside has provided important community service programs to women and children in more than 10 Westside communities.
-GO LIONS!-
