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2009-10 Women's Basketball Coaches

Gary Van Atta Image
Gary Van Atta
Head Coach
Van Atta begins his fifth coaching season at Trevecca, where he has led the women's basketball program to new heights. Van Atta, a veteran coach of 23 years, holds an overall coaching record (high school and college) of 508 wins and 244 losses. His four-year college coaching record is 379-191 (NAIA record is 272-81 (.777)). Van Atta has an impressive 100% graduation rate and has coached more than 100 scholar-athletes and 12 Academic All-Americans. During the past three seasons the Lady Trojans have been ranked in the WBCA's Top 25 Academic Teams in the Nation.

In the spring of 2009, Van Atta was selected by the WBCA to serve on the WBCA Region 5 Coach of the Year selection committee.

He has a career record of 106-32 overall at Trevecca and is 47-17 in conference play in his first four seasons. The former Trojan (‘79) led the program to consecutive conference tournament championship games (three of the last four); back-to-back Elite Eight finishes in the NAIA National Tournament, and an NAIA Championship game appearance.
Dick Bess Image
Dick Bess
Assistant Coach
Dick Bess begins his 10th season as a member of the Trevecca women's basketball staff. Bess spent his previous 29 years as a successful coach in the Metro Nashville Public Schools. He won three district championships and two regional championships as head coach at Hillwood High School and completed his high school coaching career at Pearl-Cohn.

Bess helps with recruiting and scouting, and works with the post players and defense in practice. Dick's wife, Pat, can be seen helping keep the official scorebook at all away games.

Coach Bess and Pat have two daughters, Sharon and Karen, and one grandson, Aaron, who is at UT-Knoxville. The boss of the house is their eight-year-old schnauzer, Major.
Amy Wilhite
Assistant Coach
Amy Wilhite begins her second season as an assistant coach here at Trevecca, but she is no stranger to Coach Van Atta's ways. Wilhite played for Van Atta on his 1987 undefeated Gallatin High School state championship team.

After high school, Wilhite attended the University of Alabama where she was a four-year starter for the Lady Tide hoops squad. While at Alabama, she led the team in assists, steals, minutes played, and games started. She was named to the SEC All-Freshman team and holds several records for the Tide, including most points scored in a game (38), and most three-point field goals made in a game (8).

Amy is married to Seth Wilhite of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. They have three children - Madison (13), Molly Claire (10), and Jack (8).
Jaime Luke
Grad Assistant
Jaime Luke begins her second season as the Trojans' graduate assistant. Luke played for four years as a Trojan, including two under Coach Van Atta.

She returns to the Trojans after a one year haitus. She was a member of the Trojans from 2003-2004 to 2006-2007, helping lead the team to three consecutive NAIA Elite Eights in that span.

She was a two-time TranSouth Scholar Athlete for the Trojans during her tenure as well.