FIBA Basketball
ITA - Gamba into Hall
<FONT class=txt face="">INDIANAPOLIS (Hall Of Fame) - Italy coaching great Sandro Gamba has been elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The former national team boss, a native of Milan, coached in Europe for over 30 years, including Italian Division I professional league teams Simmenthal (1965-73), Ignis (1973-77), Turin (1977-1980) and the Italian national team (1979-1992).</FONT>
INDIANAPOLIS (Hall Of Fame) - Italy coaching great Sandro Gamba has been elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The former national team boss, a native of Milan, coached in Europe for over 30 years, including Italian Division I professional league teams Simmenthal (1965-73), Ignis (1973-77), Turin (1977-1980) and the Italian national team (1979-1992).
He led four Italian Olympic teams and guided the 1980 squad to a silver medal.
Gamba's professional teams won five Italian League championships, a European Championship, a Champions Cup and Cup of Cups title.
In addition, he guided the Azzurri to a gold medal at EuroBasket 83.
Italy had two reasons to celebrate as Geno Auriemma, the University of Connecticut coach, was also elected.
Born in Montella, Italy, Auriemma turned UConn into a women's basketball powerhouse.
In 21 years at the school, he has guided the Huskies to five national championships, eight Final Four appearances and two unbeaten seasons.
"I think this is the first time in my life I have been rendered speechless," Auriemma said.
Auriemma's honour comes a year after Connecticut men's basketball coach Jim Calhoun was enshrined. Auriemma will be inducted into the women's Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tennessee later this month.
After getting snubbed last year, nine-time NBA All-Star forward Dominique Wilkins was elected to Hall.
Joining Wilkins, who was nicknamed "The Human Highlight Film" for his acrobatic dunks, in the Hall of Fame are fellow former NBA stars Charles Barkley and Joe Dumars.
Big East Conference founder David Gavitt was also chosen for the class of 2006.
The elections were announced at the site of the NCAA men's Final Four in Indianapolis on Monday morning.
Real Madrid's legendary coach Pedro Ferrandiz, and former NBA All-Stars Adrian Dantley, Chet Walker and Ralph Sampson along with coaches Don Nelson, Gene Keady and Van Chancellor and long-time announcer Dick Vitale were among the finalists not elected.
The Class of 2006 will be enshrined during festivities in Springfield, Massachusetts on September 9.
PA Sport
The former national team boss, a native of Milan, coached in Europe for over 30 years, including Italian Division I professional league teams Simmenthal (1965-73), Ignis (1973-77), Turin (1977-1980) and the Italian national team (1979-1992).
He led four Italian Olympic teams and guided the 1980 squad to a silver medal.
Gamba's professional teams won five Italian League championships, a European Championship, a Champions Cup and Cup of Cups title.
In addition, he guided the Azzurri to a gold medal at EuroBasket 83.
Italy had two reasons to celebrate as Geno Auriemma, the University of Connecticut coach, was also elected.
Born in Montella, Italy, Auriemma turned UConn into a women's basketball powerhouse.
In 21 years at the school, he has guided the Huskies to five national championships, eight Final Four appearances and two unbeaten seasons.
"I think this is the first time in my life I have been rendered speechless," Auriemma said.
Auriemma's honour comes a year after Connecticut men's basketball coach Jim Calhoun was enshrined. Auriemma will be inducted into the women's Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tennessee later this month.
After getting snubbed last year, nine-time NBA All-Star forward Dominique Wilkins was elected to Hall.
Joining Wilkins, who was nicknamed "The Human Highlight Film" for his acrobatic dunks, in the Hall of Fame are fellow former NBA stars Charles Barkley and Joe Dumars.
Big East Conference founder David Gavitt was also chosen for the class of 2006.
The elections were announced at the site of the NCAA men's Final Four in Indianapolis on Monday morning.
Real Madrid's legendary coach Pedro Ferrandiz, and former NBA All-Stars Adrian Dantley, Chet Walker and Ralph Sampson along with coaches Don Nelson, Gene Keady and Van Chancellor and long-time announcer Dick Vitale were among the finalists not elected.
The Class of 2006 will be enshrined during festivities in Springfield, Massachusetts on September 9.
PA Sport