Dailey, DeMoss make history as assistants

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Connecticut’s Chris Dailey and former Tennessee assistant Mickie DeMoss are entering uncharted territory with their historic inductions Saturday into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. They’ll become the first people inducted into the hall primarily for their accomplishments as assistant coaches.

“I never thought it would be a possibility just because I knew what the criteria was and it had always been a head coach,” Dailey said. “I was surprised, humbled, just overwhelmed.”

Dailey has been at Connecticut throughout Geno Auriemma’s 33-year tenure that includes an NCAA- record 11 national titles, but she’s never been a head coach. DeMoss had stints as a head coach at Florida (1979-83) and Kentucky (2003-07) but is best known as an assistant on six of Pat Summitt’s eight national championship teams at Tennessee.

The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame is breaking new ground. The Pro Football Hall of Fame, College Football Hall of Fame and Hockey Hall of Fame have no inductees who were selected primarily on their achievements as an assistant coach. The Baseball Hall of Fame hasn’t enshrined anyone whose biggest accomplishments came as a pitching coach or hitting coach.

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inducted Tex Winter, who designed the triangle offense and was an assistant on Phil Jackson’s staffs with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. But Winter was inducted as a contributor in 2011.

“I think it breaks a glass ceiling,” DeMoss said.