Tidwell Nominated For National Assistant Coach of the Year
2/7/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 7, 2002
FORT WORTH, Texas - TCU's associate head coach Larry Tidwell has been nominated for the AFLAC National Assistant Coach of the Year Award, it was announced today. The award is designed to honor some of the truly unsung heroes of American team sports.
"I love coaching and teaching," Tidwell said. "I'm a happy camper every day I come into work. It's a privilege just to be a coach, and it's an honor to be nominated for this award."
Tidwell is in his third season on the TCU women's basketball staff. The 26-year coaching veteran coordinates recruiting efforts for the Lady Frogs, helps with on-the-floor coaching and gives individual instruction to TCU's post players. TCU head coach Jeff Mittie called Tidwell to his staff prior to the 1999-2000 campaign, and the results have been impressive, as the Lady Frogs have posted a 58-26 record (.690) over three seasons.
Tidwell was instrumental in securing TCU's 2000 recruiting class, which was ranked 22nd in the country, as well as the fourth-rated 2001 class, which was the most highly-touted in the program's history.
"People see the high-rated recruiting classes that Larry helps bring in," Mittie said. "But he does so many things in the community and for people in our profession that go unnoticed. That's why I feel he is an excellent candidate for this award."
Tidwell came to TCU after a brief stint as an assistant coach at the University of South Florida. Prior to that post, he served as athletic director and head coach at Mexia (Texas) High School. Before assuming his duties at Mexia, Tidwell served six seasons as an assistant coach at Baylor University. As a college coach, four of Tidwell's eight recruiting classes have been recognized among the nation's top 25.
A native of Sanger, Texas, Tidwell made four stops (Frisco, Lexington, Schulenburg and Mexia) during 18 years in Texas high schools, compiling a 283-65 career record as a head coach, good for an .813 winning percentage. In women's basketball, his teams made 10 consecutive state playoff appearances. Tidwell played football and basketball at TCU in 1971-72 before transferring to Austin College, where he earned three letters in football, three in baseball and two in track.
Tidwell has served on the board of directors of the Texas Girls High School Basketball Coaches Association and the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC). In 1991, he coached in the Texas Girls' Coaches All-Star game. He also has served as assistant director of the TABC summer camps for girls. Named "Teacher of the Year" on two occasions, Tidwell was honored as Schulenburg "Citizen of the Year" in 1991.
The program, which is administered by Scholastic Coach & Athletic Director, a magazine that has served the coaching profession since 1931, will select up to 500 male and female winners in all sports from the thousands who will be nominated.
A panel of top prep sportswriters across the country will be responsible for the final selections, and the winners will be announced on May 1, 2002. With more than 350,000 assistant coaches nationwide, the award is highly selective.
