The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today (Feb. 7) that Waukon girls basketball coach Gene Klinge is one of two recipients of the 2011 Morgan Wootten Award for Lifetime Achievement in Coaching High School Basketball. The annual award, one for boys basketball and one for girls basketball, is named after Morgan Wootten, one of two coaches enshrined into the Basketball Hall of Fame that exclusively coached high school basketball. The boys high school recipient is Bob Hurley of St. Anthony’s High School in Jersey City, New Jersey.
 
Coach Klinge has been on the sidelines coaching girls’ basketball for 49 years. His career began in 1962, and for the next 41 years he coached at West Central of Maynard where he would win 817 games before leaving the school in 2003.  His next stop and where he currently coaches is Waukon High School.  In his first year at Waukon, he led the team to a 28-0 record and the state championship. He also led Waukon to a runner-up finish in Class 3A in 2010. He is Iowa’s all-time wins leader with a career record 968-225 (through Feb. 7) with 16 state tournament appearances.
 
 The 2011 winner of the Morgan Wootten Award for boys’ basketball is Bob Hurley.  Coach Hurley has coached basketball at St. Anthony’s High School in Jersey City, New Jersey since 1972. Coach Hurley was enshrined into the Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2010 and just recently earned his 1,000 career victory at St. Anthony.
 
“The selection of these two legendary high school coaches for this year’s Morgan Wootten Award continues the Hall of Fame’s goal of honoring excellence in the sport of basketball at all levels,” said John. L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame.  “These coaches have touched the lives of thousands of basketball players and we are proud to recognize their lifetime achievement at the high school level.”
 
“Bob Hurley and Gene Klinge represent the very finest in high school basketball.  As outstanding teachers, coaches and role models, they have touched the lives of thousands of young people.  I am extremely pleased that I will able to present the Lifetime Achievement Awards to these fine coaches at this year’s McDonald’s All-American Games,” said Hall of Fame Class of 2000 member Morgan Wootten.
 
The Morgan Wootten Award winners were selected by a nationally based committee comprised of Hall of Famers, national high school media members, tournament directors and others that have significantly impacted the game.  The awards will be presented by Morgan Wootten at the 2011 McDonald’s All-American Game events in March in Chicago.

For more information, please visit the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame website at www.hoophall.com or call 1-877-4-HOOPLA