SEVERAL YEARS AGO, the International Institute of Sports, located at the University of Rhode Island, decided it was time to create a New England Basketball Hall of Fame.There have been several induction ceremonies, held approximately every three years, throughout the past decade. Springfield College continues to be one of


the institute’s favored colleges and universities. After all, Springfield College is indeed the Birthplace of Basketball®, and remains the only college, per se, to be inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame. And, in 2007, the institute named Springfield College one of the “15 Most Influential Sports Education ‘Teams’ in America,” for creatively and effective- ly using sport to educate and shape positive values. At this year’s induction ceremonies, held in


October at the ballroom of the Mohegan Sun Resort in Uncasville, Conn., the sentiment was no different.Three new inductees possess Springfield College affiliations—including two who currently own the title “Springfield College basketball coach.”They are Naomi Graves G’85, in her nineteenth year as head women’s basket- ball coach at Springfield College, and Pete Broaca, in his twelfth year as the No. 1 assistant to head men’s basketball coach Charlie Brock ’76, G’80. The third Springfield College inductee,


HalWissel ‘60,was head men’s basketball coach at Springfield College from 1986-87 through 1989-90. Five other individuals associated with


Springfield College previously have been inducted—including the game’s inventor, James Naismith 1891, current Dartmouth CollegeWomen’s Head Coach ChrisWielgus ‘74, former standout and still men’s record-holder Denis Clark ’71, and the well-known former Springfield College head coaches and directors of athletics Ed Steitz G’48, D.P.E. ’63, and Ed Bilik ’57, G’62. Broaca andWissel enter the New England


Basketball Hall of Fame under Springfield College affiliation, but also achieved additional success at different venues (Broaca with Coast Guard andWNEC;Wissel with Florida Southern and several NBA teams). Graves is the first and only Springfield


College-affiliated New England Basketball Hall of Famer to be inducted in the prestigious Ronald Perry classification. Perry was successful as a high school coach at Catholic Memorial, and director of athletics at The College of the Holy Cross. In addition, he was a great player, official, and administrator on several other fronts.His versatility and rate of success are


nearly unmatched. Only a few were inducted in this distin-


guished category, but Graves filled the bill. It is easy to see why. Graves has achieved a great deal of success


both as a player and a coach. She is in her nine- teenth season as head coach and assistant professor of physical education at Springfield College, and twenty-fifth season as a head coach overall. She is now the longest-standing head women’s basketball coach in Springfield


“I’ve received great support


fromthe likes of Diane Potter ’57, G’63, Dotty Zenaty ‘65, and Mimi Murray ’61, G’67, and tried to follow in their footsteps.”


College history. In those previous twenty-four seasons, including six atWorcester Polytechnic Institute, her overall record is 347-285 (.549). In her previous 18 seasons at Springfield, her record is 279-202 (.580). And since Springfield made the move to the Division III level in 1995- 96, her record is an even more impressive 266-117 (.697). Graves has led Springfield to eleven post-


season berths in the last fourteen years, including five berths in the NCAAs in the last nine years. A 1982 graduate from the University of


Rhode Island (URI), she was captain of her basketball team and scored 1,862 career points (second best in school history),while receiving URI Female Athlete of the Year and All-Ameri- can honors as a senior. She received All-New England honors in each of her four years with the Rams, and was inducted into the URI Athletics Hall of Fame on October 20, 1995. A native ofWilliamsburg,Mass., Graves ranks


among the state’s all-time basketball greats. As a senior at Hampshire Regional High School, she averaged 23 points and 17 rebounds and was named a high school All-American. She led her squad to four state championships and earned an unprecedented three MVP awards at theWestern Mass. State Tournament. She was theWestern Mass. scoring leader with 2,137 career points until former Southwick High star (and UConn All-American and Olympic medal- ist) Rebecca Lobo broke her record. It has been during her time at Springfield


College, however, that Graves has really left her mark. In 2004-2005, her 25-6 squad reached its zenith thus far, the Elite Eight.Her awards and accomplishments are just too numerous to


mention completely, but include being named coach of the year within her New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference. Currently, she is on the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Committee, representing New England. She is most proud, though, of winning the


Judy Sweet Award. In May 2008, Graves was one of thirty coaches selected from around the country to attend the NCAAWomen’s Coaches Academy in Denver.The Academy provides skills training for coaches at all levels to assist them in being more efficient, productive, resourceful, and successful.While at the Academy, Graves earned the Judy Sweet Award as voted upon by her peers.The award recognizes members of the class whose spirit and willingness to share and live her story with integrity and perspec- tive, for her own and others’ personal and professional success, has made an impact. “I am as proud of earning that award as


I have been of any other,” said Graves.“It was voted upon by my peers, and that meant a lot to me.” Graves came to Springfield College first as a


graduate assistant in 1983.Two years later she earned her master’s degree in adapted physical education.“I wanted a back-up plan in case coaching didn’t work out. But, as you can see, it is twenty-six years later, and I’m still coaching. “I can tell you this,” she added.“I have really


bought into what Springfield College is all about. I love our coaching legacy. I’ve received great support from the likes of Diane Potter (’57, G’63), Dotty Zenaty (’65), and Mimi Murray (’61, G’67), and tried to follow in their footsteps. I guess you could say I ‘drank the Kool-aid.’ I firmly believe in the Humanics philosophy. “Entering the New England Basketball Hall of


Fame by way of earning the Ron Perry Award is very humbling,” added Graves.“I am very appreciative of all the help I received from Springfield College athletes, administrators, and my coaching colleagues. So much of this award has to do with all the help and support I received from them over many years. “While I continue to be excited by winning,


I’m probably more excited when I see my athletes crossing the stage at graduation,” said Graves.“I hope I made a difference in their lives. And that is what this is really all about. “Meanwhile, I still enjoy coming to work


every day at Springfield College,” said Graves. “I call it the Harvard of physical education, and I don’t think anyone disagrees.”1


Steve Raczynski is the director of Sports Communications.


Naomi Graves with basketball graduate assistants; Graves with Pete Broaca (left inset) and Cathie Schweitzer (right inset)


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