Alabama's Bassham and Greenwell Named Conference Best
5/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
The University of Alabama's Lane Bassham and Pat Greenwell were named the Southeastern Conference Women's Diver and Coach of the Year it was announced today.
The awards are chosen by a vote of the league's coaches. Bassham, the 2004 NCAA Three-meter Diving Champion, was the unanimous pick as the SEC's top diver.
"These are tremendous honors for Lane and Pat and for the Crimson Tide program," Alabama head swimming and diving coach Eric McIlquham said. "Lane had a season second to none and I am pleased to see her rewarded for her efforts in this manner. Pat has done his usual outstanding job with our divers. This is the kind of thing we've come to expect from him over the years."
With her national championship, Bassham became the first member of the Alabama women's swimming and diving program to win an NCAA title in 20 years. She also finished second off the one-meter board at the NCAAs and was named NCAA Championships "Diver of the Meet". The Moultrie, Ga. native went undefeated during the regular season off the one and three-meter boards. On the conference level, Bassham had already been named SEC Diver of the Year by the Knoxville News-Sentinel after sweeping both spring board events at the SEC Championships. For her career, she earned eight All-American honors and three SEC titles.
This marks the fifth time Greenwell has been named SEC Coach of the Year, but the first time he has earned the honor for his work with the Tide women. Three of Greenwell's women finaled and four scored at the SEC championships and Bassham and Crystal Rasmussen earned berths at the 2004 NCAA Championships. In addition to Bassham's NCAA finishes, Rasmussen earned honorable mention All-American honors after finishing 11th off the one-meter board. Greenwell was named 2004 NCAA Championships Diving Coach of the Meet and the Knoxville News-Sentinel's SEC Diving Coach of the Year for women.
Bassham is only the second Alabama woman to be named SEC Diver of the Year, joining All-American Barbara Logan who earned the honor in 1981. Bassham's honor is the 11th for the combined men and women's diving program. Greenwell's honor is the 10th for an Alabama diving coach.
Auburn's Kirsty Coventry was named SEC Swimmer of the Year and Kara Lynn Joyce of Georgia was named Freshman Swimmer of the year while Kentucky's Kari Retrum claimed the corresponding award for a freshman diver.
