SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 9

(By Senators Prezioso and Oliverio)


Recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of Gale Catlett, head basketball coach of West Virginia University, and Ed Pastilong, athletic director of West Virginia University.

Whereas, Gale Catlett, head basketball coach of West Virginia University, holds the WVU record for the most wins and he also holds a .644 winning percentage with the Mountaineers; and
Whereas, After twenty-six years as a collegiate head coach, Gale Catlett holds a .665 winning percentage that ranks him among the top active coaches nationwide; and
Whereas, Gale Catlett has taken a team of relative unknowns into one of the nation's premier conferences and made it a contender in just three campaigns. Under his leadership, West Virginia University won the second-highest number of games of any expansion team in Big East history during its debut season, and over the last two years was in contention for the Big East regular season title until the final week of competition and its appearance at the NCAA "Sweet 16" tournament; and
Whereas, Ed Pastilong, athletic director of West Virginia University, has a long list of achievements that have kept WVU in the forefront; and
Whereas, During his ten-year tenure as athletic director, Ed Pastilong's leadership has brought financial stability to the athletic department. The establishment of the athletic scholarship endowment fund to supplement the rising cost of a college education has grown to more than one hundred endowed scholarships; and
Whereas, His creation of the Athletic Director's Academic Honor Roll to recognize the hundreds of student-athletes who are successful in the classroom is a success; and
Whereas, Ed Pastilong has continued the evolution of WVU as a major player in college athletics. Beginning with the formation of the Big East football conference to West Virginia University's inclusion as a full-fledged member of the Big East, WVU has become part of a nationally prominent all-sport conference; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate:
That the Senate hereby recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of Gale Catlett, head basketball coach of the West Virginia University, for his tremendous coaching ability which ranks him among the highest in the nation and which helped make the Big East Conference the "Big Easy" conference; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Senate hereby recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of Ed Pastilong, athletic director of West Virginia University, who has dedicated himself to making West Virginia University's teams nationally prominent. He has also committed himself to the maximum development of not only the athletic ability of all team players but also their academic education; and be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to Gale Catlett, head basketball coach of West Virginia University, and to Ed Pastilong, athletic director of West Virginia University.