Wendy Larry Gets 500th Victory

ODU women’s basketball head coach Wendy Larry ’77 collected career win No. 500 on Dec. 9 at the Ted Constant Convocation Center as the Lady Monarchs defeated Chicago State, 77-38.

With the win, Larry became the 30th all-time and 23rd active Division I coach to reach the 500-victory milestone. In 23 years as a head coach, she has compiled a 509-189 mark and a 460-158 record at Old Dominion (through January 2007). Larry is now in her 20th season at ODU, where she played from 1973-77.

From player to graduate assistant to assistant coach to head coach, Larry has been a part of the success of Lady Monarch basketball at every level. Over 19 full seasons at the helm, her ODU teams reached 18 NCAA tournaments and captured a record-setting 15 Colonial Athletic Association championships.

Larry, who coached one year at Virginia Wesleyan and two seasons at Arizona before returning to her alma mater, has led her ODU teams to 17 20-plus-win seasons.

She has received eight Coach of the Year awards from three different leagues and has been recognized on the national level with various Coach of the Year honors.

Coach Wendy Larry (third from left) was recognized for her 500th victory prior to the Lady Monarchs’ home game against Tennessee on Dec. 22. Welcoming her to the “500 Club” were Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt, the NCAA’s winningest coach, ODU athletic director Jim Jarrett and Big Blue.