Former WTC coach inducted into WJCAC Hall of Fame

Western Texas College along with the Western Junior College Athletic Conference took the opportunity to recognize the late Coach Kelly Chadwick during last Thursday's basketball games at the Coliseum in Snyder, Texas. The WJCAC Hall of Fame inductee was represented by his daughter, Denise Payne and her son Justin and daughter Jenna, and Coach Chadwick's son Royce Chadwick, who currently coaches the Texas A&M- Corpus Christi women's basketball team. The honor was presented to the Chadwick Family by Lyndon Hardin, the WJCAC Conference Commissioner and long time friend of Coach Kelly Chadwick and the Chadwick Family.

Coach Chadwick began his career within the Western Junior College Athletic Conference at Amarillo College where he was at the helm of the Lady Bulldog program from 1978 – 1985. There he established his expectation of success bearing a record of 161-76. He led the Lady Bulldogs to 3 Region 5 tournament championships and 3 NJCAA National Championship Tournament appearances in 1978-79, 1980-81 and 1982-83. After a highly successful career at Amarillo College, Coach Chadwick came to Western Texas College where he coached the Women's Basketball Team from 1985-1992, who were known at that time as the Lady Dusters. His record at WTC was 134-82, another successful campaign. During 2 different seasons his teams earned the right to be named Conference Champions and advance to the NJCAA National Tournament. During the 1986-87 season they were WJCAC conference champions, NJCAA Region 5 tournament champions and they finished fourth at the NJCAA National Tournament. During the 1988-89 season they were NJCAA Region 5 Champions and finished sixth at the NJCAA National Tourney.

Coach Chadwick had the opportunity to coach 6 All-Americans, Oliva Jones, Kellye Richardson and Machelle Whitehead from Amarillo College and Nicky Allen, Pam Cox and Brenda Welch at Western Texas College. His success transcended both on and off the court. In a span of 12 years he had 46 players advance to a major university where over 94% of them went on to graduate.

We would like to take this opportunity to recognize Coach Chadwick for the impact he had on so many lives at Amarillo College, Western Texas College and throughout the entire NJCAA Region 5. Players, coaches, officials and administrators alike remember him and the impact he made in their lives. There are so many wonderful stories of him and we are truly thankful that he is part of the history at Amarillo College, Western Texas College, and WJCAC.