Javelina Hall of Fame
Jill Willson, former Texas A&M-Kingsville athletic director and head women’s basketball coach, will be inducted into the Javelina Hall of Fame Feb. 1 in the Memorial Student Union Building ballrooms on campus.
Willson was on the TAMUK athletic staff for 14 years.
She was the women’s basketball coach for eight seasons, taking over the position in 1992-93.
In her final year as head of the program, the Javelinas won the Lone Star Conference championship and reached the NCAA Division II national playoffs.
The 1999-2000 squad had a 23-7 record and went 15-1 in the LSC.
One of her players, guard Lorie Martinez, still holds the NCAA Division II national record for most three-point goals made in a career.
Willson served as associate athletic director for two years before taking over the AD job in 2000-01.
A native of Floydada, she played college basketball at Ranger Junior College for a year before transferring to West Texas State.
She was on the Buff team for a season before becoming a student assistant coach.
Willson was an assistant coach at Wayland Baptist for three years before taking the TAMUK position in 1992.
While in Kingsville, Willson was on the board of directors of the Boys and Girls Club, Kingsville convention and Visitors Bureau and the Whataburger Cactus Bowl.
She was president of the Noon Rotary Club and was on the Kingsville advisory board of Planned Parenthood.
Willson has worked at the NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis, Ind., since leaving TAMUK.
She visits schools that are transitioning into NCAA Division II and provides an orientation program.
