Jan. 25, 2008

Springfield, MA - The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has announced Joseph Gallagher - former boy's basketball coach at St. John's College High School in Washington D.C. as the second recipient of the Morgan Wootten Award: For Lifetime Achievement in Coaching High School Basketball. The annual Award honors a boy's basketball coach who has achieved extraordinary results and made a significant contribution to the game of basketball at the high school level.

The Basketball Hall of Fame will announce the winner of the girl's high school coach on February 1st, 2008. Mr. Wootten will present the Award to both coaches this March in Milwaukee at the 2008 McDonald's High School All-America Game.

Coach Wootten expresses his high regard for this years' winner. "No coach is more worthy of the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Joe has proven himself as a Hall of Famer in everything he has accomplished. He is one of the founding fathers of summer basketball and thousands of students he taught and coached have had their lives enriched by a true master teacher. I was one of the many fortunate ones to have my life touched by Joe, he was truly my mentor."

Coach Gallagher began his coaching career in the Maui Marine Corps in 1945 before taking over at St. John's College High School in Washington, DC in 1947. He would lead St. John's from 1947 - 1991 playing against the best national and international competition, winning 870 games in 46 seasons at the helm. Coach Gallagher was named Washington Metropolitan Area Coach of the Year and Washington Catholic League Coach of the Year seven times each in his tenure. His teams won 12 Washington Catholic League Championships and one City Title in addition to being named to coach the McDonald's All-American Game's East Team and the Capitol City Classic three times. Additionally, he started the first day basketball camp in 1961and is a member of three Hall of Fames (Washington, DC, St. John's College and George Washington University). Coach Gallagher was responsible for the hiring of Morgan Wootten and provided him with his first coaching opportunity before becoming legendary at DeMatha Catholic High School.

Named in honor of legendary DeMatha High School (MD) coach and Hall of Famer Morgan Wootten, the Award winners are selected by a blue-ribbon panel comprised of national media members covering high school basketball, executives with a significant role in high school and amateur basketball, and elite coaches.

The inaugural recipient of Morgan Wootten Award for boy's high school basketball was Jack Curran, veteran coach of Archbishop Molloy High School in Briarwood, NY.

Coach Wootten was enshrined as a coach into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000, becoming the first and only coach to be elected as a result of his or her high school coaching achievements. Wootten, a graduate of the University of Maryland, coached at DeMatha for 46 seasons, compiling an astounding 1,274-192 win/loss record. Over 150 of his players went on to play in college, with many also starring in the NBA. Coach Wootten has won numerous coaching and teaching awards and accolades for his work, and still is active teaching others about the game he loves.