Andy Landers received some much deserved recognition this past weekend as he was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tenn.

Landers was born in Maryville, Tenn., a town covering less than five square miles, and began his coaching career at Roane State in Harriman, Tenn., a town of less than 7,000 residents.

But Coach Landers has made his name in Athens. In an era of coaching carousels and contract skipping, the Georgia women’s basketball program has long been able to lean on the man that built the program and continues to push it toward excellence.

Landers became the University’s first-ever full-time women’s basketball coach in 1979, and has yet to relinquish the job.

While Landers’ career is far from an end, the Hall of Fame ceremony this past weekend in Knoxville was appropriate when considered alongside his humble beginnings in the Volunteer State.

“He’s a great teacher and a great leader, and you can learn a lot from Coach,” said Cori Chambers, a former Georgia player under Landers.

“He cares about you personally as a player, a person and a student.”

Landers, who hasn’t had a losing season in his 28 years at the University, has led the Lady Dogs to 11 SEC titles, 24 NCAA Tournament appearances and five Final Fours.

“The consistency has been tremendous throughout his tenure,” said Pat Summitt, the head coach at Tennessee and the winningest basketball coach in Division I history. “He has had a lot of All-Americans, Olympians and Final Four teams that put him in an elite group of coaches in the women’s game.”

But Landers always points to players and others as the sources of his success.

“I’ve been blessed to have great players, assistant coaches, administrators, supporters,” Landers said in a news release.

Landers is often more than just a coach to his players.

“The intensity, yelling all the time between the lines, but once you step off the court, he’s just like a second dad,” said freshman point guard Ashley Houts.

Carla Williams, a player under Landers from 1986-89, an assistant coach from 1991-96, and the University’s current associate athletic director for Student Services, also said Landers is an influence beyond basketball.

“He is as passionate today about developing young people, graduating players and winning as he was when I first met him in 1984.”

Despite all his successes, one obvious omission exists on his r�sum� – a national title. With 684 career wins and innumerable other accolades, it may be the only thing left for Landers.

“I wish for him more than anything to win the national championship, his dream,” Chambers said. “I hope that comes true for him.”