Florida Senate - 2009 (NP) SR 2780 By Senator Lawson 6-04713-09 20092780__ 1 Senate Resolution 2 A resolution recognizing FSU Head Coach Leonard 3 Hamilton’s selection as ACC Men’s Basketball Coach of 4 the Year and Basketball Times’ National Men’s 5 Basketball Coach of the Year for 2009 and commending 6 his community leadership. 7 8 WHEREAS, Coach Leonard Hamilton has served as head men’s 9 basketball coach at Florida State University for 7 seasons, and 10 he has played an active and vital role in coaching and mentoring 11 young men and boys in the state of Florida throughout his 12 tenure, and 13 WHEREAS, Coach Leonard Hamilton is one of the top 25 all 14 time most winning coaches in Atlantic Coast Conference history, 15 leading the Florida State men’s basketball program to three 16 consecutive postseason appearances as he continues to cement the 17 Seminoles as one of the top basketball programs in the nation, 18 and 19 WHEREAS, Coach Hamilton annually attracts the nation’s top 20 talent to the State of Florida, including two of the only three 21 players in FSU history to earn All-ACC honors, and 22 WHEREAS, Coach Hamilton helps his players reach their goals 23 both on and off the court, with 17 of 20 seniors earning their 24 degrees during his tenure at FSU, and 25 WHEREAS, prior to joining the Seminoles, Leonard Hamilton 26 had already twice earned the distinction of being named Big East 27 Conference Coach of the year and United Press International 28 National Coach of the Year, and had coached many young men to 29 all-conference standings, and 30 WHEREAS, in 2009 Coach Hamilton led the Florida State men’s 31 basketball team to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 32 1998 and to the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament 33 championship game for the first time in school history, and has 34 been named ACC 2009 Coach of the Year and Basketball Times’ 2009 35 National Coach of the Year, NOW, THEREFORE, 36 37 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 38 39 That the Senate commends Coach Leonard Hamilton for his 40 outstanding leadership as FSU head basketball coach, mentor, and 41 community servant, and congratulates him on his contributions to 42 Florida State University, the Tallahassee community, and the 43 State of Florida. 44 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, with 45 the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to Coach Leonard 46 Hamilton as a tangible token of the sentiments of the Florida 47 Senate.