Athletics Hall of Fame 1997
Nancy Wilson completed a 30-year coaching career in 2012 as one of only 31 Division I coaches to surpass the 500-win milestone with 542 career victories. She coached at the College of Charleston and the University of South Carolina. She is the all-time winningest women’s basketball coach at both institutions.
Wilson guided the Cougars to their most successful season in Division I history, earning a school-record 23 wins as well as a program-best 14 league wins in 2008-09. CofC also won a school-record nine games in a row and made its first-ever appearance in the Southern Conference Tournament championship game.
At South Carolina, she compiled a record of 231-150. She led USC to five NCAA Tournament appearances, advancing to the “Sweet 16” in 1990. The Lady Gamecocks also won five Metro Conference Championships under Wilson, including four in a row from 1988 through 1991. Wilson was named Metro Conference Coach of the Year in 1985 and again in 1991.
Prior to coaching at South Carolina, Wilson spent eight years as head coach at College of Charleston where she compiled a record of 193-64. Her teams posted seven 20-win seasons and twice reached the 30-win mark. Wilson led College of Charleston to three consecutive AIAW Division II national runners-up finishes from 1980-82. Wilson was named South Carolina’s Coach-of-the-Year three times and shared National Coach-of-the-Year honors after the 1979-80 season.
A 1973 graduate of Coker, Wilson was a member of the school’s first ever intercollegiate women’s basketball team. Wilson also competed in intercollegiate field hockey. A native of Lake City, S.C., she was bestowed the Kay Yow Heart of a Coach Award by The Fellowship of Christian Athletes in 2010.