Staff Biographies
ANdy
LANdERS
P E R S O N N E L
Tennessee Tech ’74 • 725-239 (.752) in 30 seasons at the University of Georgia • 807-260 (.756) in 34 seasons overall
It’s an early-August morning and Andy Landers is making the 90-minute drive from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta back to Athens. It’s a trek he’s made probably 500 times or more during his 30 seasons as head coach at Georgia, numerous occasions under these exact same circumstances. Landers has caught a red-eye home on the final day of the July recruiting period and finally has some time for a multi-topic discussion of media-related items. Mid-conversation, Landers pulls over at “The Store” on Highway 78, a local hotspot in rural Oconee County. “Hold on a second,” Landers says through the phone. “I’ll have a sausage biscuit to go,” he tells the person who now has his attention.
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“Sure enough, coach,” a second-hand voice says loud enough to come through the phone line. “You look beat. Been on the road?” “Just out trying to find some players,” Landers responds. “How’s business?” “Good, but could be better,” the attendant offers. “That’s always the case. Congratulations on the Hall of Fame. We’re all proud for you, coach.” And with that, Landers is back out the door, into his vehicle, and again en route. The conversation returns to business, as much as it can while a sausage biscuit is being consumed. “Getting that a lot?” Landers is asked. “Quite a bit,” he replies. “It’s amazing how many folks say something, not to mention the notes and cards.”
Landers appreciates the well wishes but is rather uncomfortable talking about “individual” achievements. Of late, those kind words – and milestones – have come on a more than regular basis. Since December 2006 alone, Landers has: 1) become the winningest college basketball coach in the state of Georgia’s history; 2) secured his 750th and 800th victories as a collegiate coach; 3) been inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame; 4) notched his 700th win at Georgia; 5) been enshrined in the State of Georgia’s Sports Hall of Fame. Quite a quintet, indeed. “Everyone is congratulating me, but it, like everything else in basketball, all of these accomplishments are such team things,” Landers said. “I don’t know any
2009-10 Lad y Bulldo G Basketball
coaches who are in Halls of Fame or winning ‘x’ number of games who coached bad teams or bad players. The honor is a direct result of how players and teams and assistant coaches and staff have performed at a high level over a long period of time. That’s what’s humbling about it. It just isn’t something that I feel good about for me. It’s something that I feel great about for all the people who have participated in it.” Landers purposely deflects attention from himself and on to the others who have helped him attain every “W” and/or honor on his watch. Truth be told, Landers is significantly prouder of the not-so-public achievements of Lady Bulldog Basketball. While most knowledgeable experts in women’s