2026 SESSION

ENROLLED

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 65

Commending Debbie Ryan.

Agreed to by the Senate, January 30, 2026

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 2, 2026

WHEREAS, Debbie Ryan, an acclaimed basketball coach, was the head coach for the women's basketball team at the University of Virginia between 1977 and 2011; and

WHEREAS, Debbie Ryan led the University of Virginia women's basketball team to 24 National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament appearances and three consecutive Final Four berths between 1990 and 1992; and

WHEREAS, Debbie Ryan had a total of 739 wins at the University of Virginia and was named the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Coach of the Year seven times; and

WHEREAS, Debbie Ryan coached five ACC Players of the Year and was named the Naismith Coach of the Year and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Coach of the Year in 1991; and

WHEREAS, Debbie Ryan led the U.S. women's basketball team to a gold medal in the World University Games in 2001 and a silver medal at the Pan American Games in 2003; and

WHEREAS, Debbie Ryan was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2012; and 

WHEREAS, in 2026 the University of Virginia is raising a banner in Debbie Ryan's honor at John Paul Jones Arena; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Debbie Ryan for her legacy as a basketball coach and community leader; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Debbie Ryan as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for her contributions to women's basketball and the Commonwealth.