Glendale – Ariz. – The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced 13 inductees to be enshrined in the Class of 2024, and Wayland Baptist Flying Queens legendary coach, the late great Harley Redin, was named a Women’s Veteran Committee Inductee.
Coach Harley J. Redin was one of the most influential individuals in the history of women’s college basketball. He began his tenure as Head Coach of the Wayland Baptist Flying Queens in 1956 after serving as the men’s basketball coach and athletic director for eight years. Redin’s career featured a 437-68 overall record with Queens, six national AAU titles, and six second place finishes.
Coach Redin led the Flying Queens to 76 wins during their historic 131 consecutive game win streak spanning from 1953-1958. This historic streak was honored by the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame as the “Trailblazers of the Game” back in 2013, because of Redin’s unique coaching techniques that fueled the streak had helped transform the game of women’s basketball.
Coach Redin achieved many great accolades over his illustrious coaching career including coaching the U.S. Women’s National Team in 1959 and the 1971 Pan American Games. In 1964, he led the 1964 U.S. Women’s National Team during the World Championships where they took a 4th place finish.
In 2018, Coach Redin was the recipient of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award. He also helped the Wayland Baptist Flying Queens receive induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for their historic run from 1948-1982 that changed the game of women’s basketball.
Some of the rules Coach Redin contributed while serving on several Olympic and AAU committees were the five-player game, the 30-second clock, and unlimited amount of dribbling rather than only being able to dribble three times before having to either pass or shoot the ball.
One major influence on trying to get Coach Harley Redin into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame was Dr. Bobby Hall. Dr. Hall, the President of Wayland Baptist University who is set to retire at the end of June after serving the past eight year as President, was overjoyed hearing of the enshrinement of Coach Redin.
Dr. Hall wrote, “It is so gratifying to see Harley Redin take his rightful place in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Many of us at Wayland joined Harley’s family members, former players, coaches, and many others in diligently pursuing this day over more than four decades. I am thankful that those in positions of leadership and influence at the Hall have now recognized what we knew all along – that Coach Redin was one of the most successful and influential individuals in the history of women’s basketball and women’s opportunity. He will now be rightfully recognized with the legends of the game and we all deeply appreciate this moment.”
The National Basketball Association (NBA) released an official announcement of the 13 inductees of the Class of 2024 at the 2024 Final Four this past Saturday. President and CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame said, “From showcasing unrivaled prowess on the courts and sidelines, spanning the high school, collegiate and professional ranks, to steering the course of basketball across an entire continent and to orchestrating a pair of dynasties, we are honored to pay tribute to these remarkable individuals alongside our esteemed award recipients.”
The NBA also wrote in the release regarding Redin saying, “Redin went 431-66 in 18 seasons leading the Wayland Baptist women’s basketball program and captured six AAU National Championships. He coached the Flying Queens to two undefeated women’s seasons (1956, ’57), 17 top-five finishes, and went 110-2 during his first four campaigns at Wayland Baptist. The late Redin also coached the Women’s U.S. National Team in 1959, the 1971 Pan-American Games, and the 1963 World Tournament in Peru. He was the recipient of the Jostens-Berenson Service Award by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association for his lifetime of service to women’s basketball in 1992, inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999, and honored with the Naismith Award for Outstanding Contribution to the game of women’s basketball in 2000.”
The other inductees who will be honored as part of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2024 include:
North American Committee Inductees: Chauncey Billups, Vince Carter, Michael Cooper, Walter Davis, Bo Ryan, Charles Smith
Women’s Committee: Seimone Augustus
Men’s Veteran Committee: Dick Barnett
International Committee: Michele Timms
Contributor’s Committee: Doug Collins, Herb Simon, Jerry West
The official enshrinement ceremony will take place on August 16-17 in Springfield, Massachusetts, as well as the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut.
For the National Basketball Association’s full Class of 2024 release, visit here: