Coaches

Jill Hutchison

Year Inducted: 1993

Category: Coaches

Schools / Organizations:

Illinois State University

USA Basketball

Biography:

In her 28 seasons leading the Illinois State University women’s basketball team, Jill Hutchison became a national leader for women’s athletics.  She helped ISU become the host of the first women’s national tournament in 1975 (Note that this was under the auspices of the AIAW–the predecessor of the NCAA).

Her career record of 461-323 is still the ISU standard.  Along the way, her teams won 7 AIAW state titles, earned 3 NCAA tournament bids, and were invited to 6 WNIT tournaments.  Jill coached 13 first team all-conference players, 2 All-American Players, and 2 Olympic players.  

In its 20th anniversary publication, the Women’s Basketball Coaching Association describes Jill:  “She is the model of equity, fairness, and hard work.  She is simply coach.  That is what Title IX is all about.”  Jill was named her conference’s Coach of the Year on 3 occasions.  Jill coached 3 teams for the ABA at the junior USA level.  She guided the 1983 World University Games team to a gold medal for the USA–the only gold medal won at those games by the USA.  She worked with the USA Olympic team in 1987 saying” The players need a support system.  Someone who is there for them.”  Jill was certainly there for her athletes at ISU for 28 seasons.

Jill has been inducted into the ISU Hall of Fame in 1984; the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame in 2008; and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.  Jill continues to be a resource and supporter of the IBCA.