Dean Weese obit

Legendary women's basketball coach Dean Weese dies at 88

 

He was not on the list.

A Texas Panhandle sports icon and hall of famer who died over the weekend leaves behind a huge legacy, which will be remembered at a celebration of life service Nov. 5.

A memorial service for legendary women’s basketball coach Dean Weese is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday at the Godley Middle School Gymnasium, 9401 Highway 171, about 20 miles from Granbury where he passed away Saturday, Oct. 28. He was 88. Danny Andrews, Wayland’s retired Director of Alumni Relations, will be officiating at the service.

Inducted into the second class of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tenn., in 2000, Weese compiled a 42-year coaching record of 1,207-197 – 22-6 at his hometown of Higgins, 444-76 at Spearman, 190-30 at Wayland Baptist College and 551-85 in Levelland.

Weese won three state titles in 15 years at Spearman and seven in 19 seasons in Levelland with 13 straight district championships at the Panhandle school and 17 more in Levelland.

In six years at Wayland, five of his teams made it to the AIAW national tournament, including the final four in 1978, won four National Women’s Invitational Tournament titles in Amarillo and two national Amateur Athletic Union crowns.

“When Coach Weese came to Wayland, the women’s basketball world learned what the State of Texas already knew — that he was one of the best coaches in the world,” said Dr. Bobby Hall, President of Wayland, in a news release from the university. “Dean’s success came not just in wins and championships, but more importantly in the successful lives and careers of those he coached.”

“We at Wayland are thankful that he came our way and will always be appreciative of the excellence he brought to the Flying Queens program,” Hall said. “With that came the opening of unparalleled opportunity for women in sport, administration, business, and so many other fields.”

After his stint at Wayland, Weese coached half a season for the Dallas Diamonds in the fledgling Women’s Professional Basketball League.

He helped his Wayland predecessor Harley Redin coach the United States team, that included seven Flying Queens, to the silver medal in the 1971 Pan American Games in Cali, Colombia, coached a U.S. squad that played several games in the Soviet Union (as well as a Queens’ game against the Russians in Plainview), one that played in Hong Kong and also coached in the Texas-Oklahoma High School All-Star Game.

He was inducted into the Wayland Athletics Hall of Honor in 2000, the same year he was selected National Girls’ Sports Coach of the Year by the National Federation of Coaches Association and also was named one of the 100 Sports Legends of the Texas Panhandle by the Amarillo Globe-News.

Weese was inducted into the Panhandle Sport Hall of Fame in Amarillo in 2001. He also is a member of the Texas High School Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame and the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame.

Melvin Dean Weese was born Sept. 26, 1935, in the Panhandle community of Higgins, the son of Willard John and Josephine Weese. He played basketball at Higgins High School where he graduated in 1953. He was a catcher for semi-pro baseball teams for several summers.

He graduated from Phillips University in Enid, Okla., playing basketball and baseball. Weese enjoyed playing golf and watching the Texas Rangers.

Weese was proud that several of his former players and assistants went on to become successful high school and junior high coaches.

He married JoAnn Parsons on Nov. 25, 1959, in Alva, Okla.

He is survived by his wife; a daughter, DeAnn Weese of Granbury; two sons, Todd Weese and partner Orlando Chapa of Fort Worth, and Jeremy Weese of Odessa; and one granddaughter, Olivia Weese of Odessa; his sister, Kay Carpenter of El Paso; a brother, Linden Weese of Lubbock and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials are suggested to the Hutcherson Flying Queens Foundation, 8127 Mesa Drive, Suite 8206, PMB 276, Austin, TX 78759 or the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, 700 Hall of Fame Drive, Knoxville, TN 37195-3240.