COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (Dec. 12, 2007) — Bill and Suzanne Worrell know about motivation. He coached Tennessee Tech University’s women’s basketball team for 20 years until his recent retirement, and she continues to run a successful insurance business.

With a generous contribution to TTU’s department of exercise science, physical education and wellness, they also hope to motivate future university students into becoming coaches.

“This is an absolutely wonderful gift. Bill and Suzanne’s foresight will help generations of Tech students achieve their educational dreams,” said Pat Jordan, department chairperson.

The Bill and Suzanne Worrell Scholarship Endowment will help students who are interested in the coaching profession achieve their educations.

Preference is for those interested in women’s basketball, but those with plans to coach men’s basketball or those interested in the coaching profession in general may qualify.
TTU’s exercise science, physical education and wellness department will administer the endowment.

“We are proud to do this for our university,” the couple said. “We hope that this gift will motivate future Tech students to choose a coaching career, a career that has provided many blessings to us.”

In the 20 years he coached TTU’s women’s basketball team, Worrell saw his team through 408 winning games, 12 Ohio Valley Conference championships and eight NCAA tournament appearances.

He also saw almost every player accept her diploma, coaching 19 players who earned All-America selection.

With Bill busy in the athletics department, Suzanne was active on the former Nursing Foundation, now known as the School of Nursing Development Council.

She served as the board’s secretary and scholarship committee member for years, and has utilized her successful business to help the university, recently leading a pledge drive among area State Farm agents to fund a room in the new nursing and health services building.

Both are also TTU alumni. Bill graduated in 1968 with a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education and in 1969 with a master’s degree in the same discipline. Suzanne graduated in 1968 with a bachelor’s degree in education.

In addition, the couple has two daughters who are TTU alumni. Dara graduated in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, and Paige received a bachelor’s degree in business management in 1997.

The Worrells say they would also like to ask the community for support to future educators and coaches. Anyone who wishes to enhance the scholarship should contact the TTU Development Office at 931/372-3055.

--Tracey Hackett
This information posted 20 December 2007