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Texas A&M

Gary Blair honored at halftime of Final Four after Hall of Fame announcement

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•04/01/23•

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Legendary Texas A&M women's basketball coach Gary Blair
Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images

On Saturday, news came out about legendary Texas A&M women’s basketball coach Gary Blair’s selection for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. At halftime of the Final Four, he was recognized for that honor.

Blair and his fellow inductees were honored at NRG Stadium in Houston at halftime of the Florida Atlantic vs. San Diego State game. He retired from Texas A&M last year after coaching the Aggies for 19 years, amassing a 444-184 record during that time.

Already in the Women’s College Basketball Hall of Fame, he’ll now join an exclusive group in the Naismith Hall of Fame, as well.

Blair started his coaching career South Oak Cliff High School in 1973 before moving to the college ranks in 1980. He became an assistant at Louisiana Tech that year and stayed there until 1985 when he landed his first head coaching job at Stephen F. Austin. With the Ladyjacks, he totaled a 210-43 record and took the team to six straight NCAA Tournaments to close out his time there.

Then, in 1993, Blair left to become the head coach at Arkansas, where he went 198-120 and led the Ladybacks to a Final Four appearance in 1998. The next year, they won the WNIT. He stayed in Fayetteville until 2003 when he made his next — and last — move to College Station.

In Blair’s first year with Texas A&M, the Aggies finished 9-19. He turned them around in a big way the next year with a 16-15 mark and, in 2010, reached the mountaintop as Texas A&M won the national championship.

Gary Blair joins impressive company in 2023 Naismith Hall of Fame class

Blair is part of a star-studded class that will be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame this year. He joins Becky Hammon as a women’s committee selection, and the class is headlined by NBA legends Dwyane Wade, Pau Gasol, Tony Parker, Dirk Nowitzki and legendary coach Gregg Popovich.

Iconic NC State coach Jim Valvano will also be enshrined as a contributor committee selection. Purdue great Gene Keady, former Amherst coach David Hixon and Three Rivers College icon Gene Bess will also be inducted later this year.

In addition, the 1976 U.S. Women’s Olympic Team will also be part of the class. That team, led by Lusia Harris and Nancy Dunkle, won a silver medal in the Montreal Olympics after falling to Czechoslovakia in the gold medal game.

The 2023 Naismith Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony will take place in August.