Wendell Hudson Position: Head Coach Experience: Fourth Season Alma Mater: University of Alabama, 1973

When asked to coach at his alma mater on March 15, 2008, Wendell Hudson was presented a unique opportunity to help bring the Crimson Tide Women's Basketball program back to national prominence. With three seasons under his belt, the Alabama legend is primed to continue making strides in the right direction.

"I have a tremendous passion for Alabama athletics," said Hudson. "Alabama is a program that has produced First-Team All-Americans and has taken its game to the highest level, the Final Four. At Alabama, we compete for championships, and we look forward to bringing this program back as an elite national competitor."

In his first season, Hudson guided the Tide to its best start in nearly a decade as it went 12-3 prior to entering Southeastern Conference play. The 2008-09 squad collected five more wins than in the previous season and won six-consecutive contests for the most in a row since 2002. Freshman sensation Ericka Russell was one of eight league rookies to be named to the SEC All-Freshman Team and also garnered Freshmen Academic Honor Roll recognition. In addition, Alyson Butler and Tamara Williams were both named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll for their successes in the classroom.

Prior to taking the head coaching reins, Hudson served from 2003 to 2008 as Associate Athletic Director for Alumni Relations at the Capstone, a place he built strong roots in 30 years prior. Hudson graduated from the University of Alabama as the first African American scholarship athlete and earned SEC Most Valuable Player honors in 1973. He led both Alabama and the conference in scoring and was second in rebounding in 1972 and was first in boards and second in points the next season. Hudson finished his playing career in the crimson and white with 1,326 points and 826 rebounds ranking him 18th and 10th in the Alabama annals, respectively.

A veteran basketball coach with 27 years of experience with both men and women's teams, including seven seasons in the SEC, Hudson has a proven track record of success, especially in the state of Alabama. Hudson began his coaching with the Tide under C.M. Newton as an assistant from 1974-79. On the sideline as an assistant at the Capstone, Hudson helped the crimson and white compile a 129-41 record that included three-straight SEC titles and a Sweet 16 appearance in 1976. Alabama was ranked in the nation's top-10 for 43 of 54 weeks during its three-year SEC title run.

Hudson then moved on to be an assistant at North Alabama where his teams recorded an overall record of 56-31, including two trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament where the Lions went to the Final Four in 1980.

Other coaching stops included Rice (1982-83), Mississippi (1983-85) and Baylor (1985-86) before he turned his career to athletic administration at McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas in 1986.

While at McLennan, Hudson served four years as Assistant Athletic Director before being named Athletic Director, a position he held for six years. He also served as the women's basketball coach from 1986-1999. In 2001, Hudson took over the head coaching duties for the men's squad. In the 12 seasons at McLennan, Hudson compiled a 239-127 overall record, including a 219-117 mark as the head women's coach for 11 seasons.

Hudson, a member of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, graduated from Alabama in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science degree. The Birmingham native was a second-round draft pick by the National Basketball Association's Chicago Bulls. Hudson also spent time playing for the American Basketball Association's Memphis Tams.

He is married to the former Belinda Urivie and has five children: Traci, Tasha, Michelle, David and Hawvy.

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