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Kyvallos a Hall of Fame fi nalist
Legendary Queens College women’s basketball coach one of 12 considered for class of 2019
BY ZACH GEWELB
A Queens College coaching
legend is on the verge of
basketball immortality.
Lucille Kyvallos, the
legendary Queens College
women’s basketball coach
who is considered a pioneer
of the sport, was recently
announced as one of 12
finalists for the 2019 class of
the Women’s Basketball Hall
of Fame.
“We are very proud of
Lucille Kyvallos for her welldeserved
nomination for the
2019 Women’s Basketball
Hall of Fame Class. Kyvallos’
positive influence extended
not only to the many studentathletes
she coached here at
Queens College, but also to all
the student-athletes around
the country who benefited
from her contributions to the
advancement of the game of
women’s basketball,” Queens
College President Félix V.
Matos Rodríguez said.
In 2017, Kyvallos’ signature
of Lucille Kyvallos was
unveiled on the basketball
court in Queens College’s
Fitzgerald Gymnasium, an
honor that was a long time
coming and finally came to
fruition after several years.
Borough President Melinda
Katz was on hand during the
October 2017 ceremony to issue
a proclamation, which read:
“Whereas, as part of its
celebration of its 80 years
of service, Queens college
is dedicating its basketball
court in honor of Lucille
Kyvallos, who coached the
Queens College women’s
basketball team from 1969
to 1979 and from 1980 to 1981
and who led the U.S. women’s
national basketball team to
a silver medal at the World
Games in Bulgaria in 1977.”
“The World’s Borough,
is extremely proud of the
achievements of Lucille
Kyvallos and warmly
congratulates her as she
receives the honor of
having the Queens College
basketball court be dedicated
in her name.”
Additionally, Katz
declared Oct. 14, 2017 as
Lucille Kyvallos Day.
Kyvallos said that the day
of the dedication is one that
she will never forget.
“I’m overwhelmed with
this tribute to my past and
I’m very happy to see my
signature,” Kyvallos said
after the court dedication.
“It is a major honor to be
the first woman in the city
that had a basketball court
named for her. It is really
monumental to me.”
Kyvallos took over as
head coach of the program
in 1968 and served in that
role for 12 seasons.
During her tenure,
Kyvallos built the Lady
Knights into a powerhouse
program.
The team compiled a
stellar 239-77 record under
Lucille Kyvallos is one of 12 finalists for the 2019 class of the
Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Courtesy of Queens College
her tutelage and was ranked
among nation’s the top ten
sqauds from 1972-1978.
The Lady Knights’ success
under Kyvallos received
national recognition and on
Feb. 22, 1975, Madison Square
Garden invited Queens
College and Immaculata to
play the first-ever collegiate
women’s basketball game
at the world’s most famous
arena.
Nearly 12,000 fans came
out to witness the historic
event, with Immaculata
edging Queens in a thrilling
contest.
Kyvallos’ story extended
beyond Queens, when, in 1977,
she was named head coach of
the United States women’s
basketball team at the World
University Games in Sofia,
Bulgaria, where she she led
USA to a silver medal, losing
only to the Soviet Union in
the gold medal game.
Kyvallos also served on
the United States Olympic
Committee from 1969 to 1972
and from 1974 to 1976.
Kyvallos’ 1972-73 squad
was the first women’s
basketball team to be
inducted into the New York
City Basketball Hall of Fame.
She was also inducted into
the NYC Basketball Hall of
Fame herself, along with the
West Chester College Hall of
Fame, and the Queens College
Athletics Hall of Fame.
In addition to her success
on the court, Kyvallos was
at the forefront of the Title
IX movement and positioned
women’s basketball on the
national sports media scene.
“Her pioneering legacy
is an everyday part of our
student-athletes’ experience as
they compete on the college’s
Lucille Kyvallos basketball
court, the first such court in
New York City to be named
for a woman,” Félix V. Matos
Rodríguez said.
Reach editor Zach Gewelb
by e-mail at zgewelb@
schnepsmedia.com or by phone
at (718) 260–4539.
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TIMESLEDGER,50 JAN. 25-31, 2019 TIMESLEDGER.COM
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