PLAINVIEW — The Flying Queens Museum at Wayland Baptist University is proud to announce a prestigious addition to its collection with the display of Coach Harley Redin’s Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement trophy and jacket.
The Redin family generously donated these items following Redin’s induction into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024, marking a momentous recognition for the legendary coach’s contributions to women’s basketball. The trophy and trademark orange jacket are now featured in the large glass Naismith case in the center of the main room of the Flying Queens Museum.
Redin, a driving force behind the success of the Wayland Baptist Flying Queens, led the team to an astonishing 431-66 record during his 18 years as head coach. Under his leadership, the Queens claimed six AAU National Championships and became synonymous with excellence, achieving basketball’s longest winning streak for men or women with 131 consecutive victories.
Dr. Donna Hedgepath, president of Wayland Baptist University, expressed gratitude to the Redin family for this historic donation.
“Coach Harley Redin’s impact on the Flying Queens, Wayland Baptist University, and the sport of women’s basketball is beyond measure,” Dr. Hedgepath said. “His enshrinement in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the display of these significant items in our museum ensure that his legacy will continue to inspire athletes and fans for generations.”
Redin’s innovative coaching methods and influence on women’s basketball rule changes, including the adoption of a 30-second shot clock, the continuous dribble, and the five-player, full-court game, transformed the sport and opened new doors for female athletes. In addition to his success with Wayland, Redin coached the U.S. women’s basketball team in the Pan American Games, guiding them to a gold medal in 1959 and a silver medal in 1971.
His lifetime achievements also include the 2000 Naismith Women’s Outstanding Contribution to Basketball Award, the Jostens-Berenson Service Award in 2019, and induction into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999. In 2000 Redin was selected by the Amarillo Globe-News as one of their 20th Century’s “Top 100 Sports Legends of the Texas Panhandle.” He was a co-recipient of the John Bunn Award from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Redin was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.
Located in The Mabee, a collection of museums on Wayland’s Plainview campus, the Flying Queens Museum is joined by the Museum of the Llano Estacado and the Jimmy Dean Museum, each dedicated to preserving unique pieces of history. Visitors are invited to explore the legacy of Coach Harley Redin and the Wayland Flying Queens as well as see first-hand the trophy and trademark orange jacket representing a lifetime of dedication to women’s basketball.
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