Clayton State to Induct 2011 Women’s Basketball National Championship Team and Dennis Cox Into Athletics Hall of Fame

The Clayton State University Department of Athletics has announced the eighth class to be inducted into its Hall of Fame. On September 24, 2021, the Lakers will enshrine the 2011 NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship team and former women’s basketball head coach Dennis Cox, who guided the women’s basketball program from 2004-14. 

Coming off the 10-year anniversary of the first and only national championship won by a Clayton State program, the Hall of Fame committee felt it was the perfect time to honor this group of amazing student-athletes and the man who led the Lakers during their strongest years. 

THE TEAM

Led by head coach Dennis Cox and assistant coach Kaleena Coleman, the 2011 National Championship team consisted of 13 student-athletes: Timethia Bennett, Latonda Bruce, Keona Dixon, Breanna Fort, Alexiss Griffin, Drameka Griggs, Brittany Hall, Renee Jackson, Shacamra Jackson, Genesis Kelly, Kayla Mobley, Teshymia Tillman and Tanisha Woodard. 

Clayton State finished that National Championship season with a 35-1 record. The Lakers opened the campaign with 29 consecutive wins that featured victories over three nationally ranked opponents. The team finished with an 18-0 record at home and went 11-1 on the road and 6-0 at neutral sites. 

“This is like reliving it all over. I'm very excited this team is being recognized again for this National Championship after 10 years,” Clayton State Head Women's Basketball Coach Kaleena Coleman said. “It's a way to let them know that we haven't forgotten and we are still remembering and living that moment like it was yesterday, because I know I do. I'm very happy for that team and everyone that was involved. I hope everyone is able to come back and relive that moment again with us.”

Arguably one of the most thrilling wins of the season came in Morrow on February 10 when Clayton State hosted the top-ranked Lander Bearcats. In a battle of unbeatens, the No. 2 Lakers found themselves trailing 79-69 with 4:14 left to play. Refusing to accept defeat, Clayton State closed the game with a 14-2 run to knock off their PBC rival. 

The Lakers remained on the winning path, capturing the regular-season PBC title. Clayton State entered the PBC tournament and rolled past Montevallo, 90-48, in the first-round before falling to USC Aiken, 73-72, in the semifinals for its only defeat of the season. 

After missing out on a PBC tournament title and an undefeated season, Clayton State still ended up hosting the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Tournament. The Dennis Cox led team rolled through the first three games, winning by an average of 22.3 points. 

The Elite Eight in St. Joseph, Mo. was the same story for Clayton State. This time, the winning margin was 19.6 as they downed No. 3 Michigan Tech 69-50 in the championship game.

Nowadays, offense rules the basketball landscape. But for that 2011 team, they proved that defense does in fact wins championships. The Lakers closed the year with nations best scoring margin (22.4) and led in steals per game (17.9). The team's turnover margin was second in the nation at 10.19. Individually, Clayton State had three players, Tanisha Woodard (3.5), Drameka Griggs (2.9) and Brittany Hall (2.7), finish in the top 31 for steals per game.  

Clayton State scored 79.8 points per game while holding opposing teams to 57.4 points per game. 

The 2011 Clayton State Women’s Basketball National Championship team is still the only PBC women’s basketball team, the only Southeast Region women’s basketball team and the only women’s basketball team from the State of Georgia to claim a national championship during the NCAA/NAIA era. 

The 2010-11 team began a special run for the Lakers. From 2010-2013, Clayton State went 96-6, posting the highest winning percentage in the nation during that time. The Lakers also posted a Peach Belt Conference record of 52-1 during that time and had the second fewest losses of any NCAA women’s basketball program in the nation.

THE LEADER: DENNIS COX

While leading the Lakers, Cox amassed a 268-57 overall record, making him the all-time winningest coach of any Clayton State program. He also left Clayton State with a Peach Belt Conference record of 151-30. 

As the Lakers head coach, Cox guided his teams to 10-straight NCAA Division II Southeast Regional appearances, four Elite Eight appearances, two Final Four appearances and one National Championship. Clayton State also claimed seven PBC Regular Season titles and four PBC Tournament titles. 

“It is a tremendous honor to be inducted as an individual into the Clayton State Hall of Fame," Cox said. "I am eternally grateful for the opportunity I was given to be a part of the Lakers women's basketball program and to all of the many people that supported us and contributed to our success."

Following the National Championship season, the Lakers went 29-4 before producing a 32-1 season in 2012-13, only losing in the Elite Eight. Following the 2013-14 season, he was the second-winningest active head coach in Division II and is currently the 30th winningest coach all-time in Division II. 

Cox also produced two All-Americans, 23 All-PBC student-athletes, one PBC Player of the Year, one PBC Freshman of the Year and four-straight PBC Defensive Players of the Year. 

Individually, Cox was named the WBCA/Division II Bulletin National Coach of the Year in 2011, was a three-time WBCA Division II Southeast Region Coach of the Year (2011, 2012, 2013) and was a three-time PBC Coach of the Year (2007, 2011, 2012). In 2016, he was inducted into the inaugural class of the Peach Belt Conference Hall of Fame and is one of two Lakers to be enshrined by the conference. 

“In my tenure at Clayton State, we were blessed to be a part of several really good basketball teams. I'll always appreciate the players and coaches of our first team that bought into a system and culture that paved the way for others to follow and emulate. They set the tone. Then in 2007 when we got our first taste of an Elite Eight and finished Final Four, that took us to another level."

CEREMONY INFORMATION

History
Established in 2013, the Clayton State Athletics Hall of Fame was created to honor former Laker student-athletes, coaches, administrators, faculty/staff and community members who have, by their outstanding achievements, contributed to the ideals of the Clayton State Department of Athletics. Including this year's honorees, the Clayton State Athletics Hall of Fame has named eight classes and enshrined 29 former student-athletes, coaches, administrators and special inductees. This year's class will be inducted on Friday, September 24.

Purchase Tickets Online 
Individuals will be able to purchase their Clayton State Athletics Hall of Fame Ceremony tickets online. Tickets for the event are on sale now and cost $65 each for general admission with tables of eight also available for $425. A Pre-Hall of Fame reception will occur from 6-7 p.m. 
 
Additionally, Clayton State faculty and staff will receive a discounted rate of $40 for the Hall of Fame Ceremony while children ages 8-17 are $20. Children under eight will be admitted for free. 
 
All ticket options can be purchased here. This year's Hall of Fame Ceremony will be held in Morrow, Ga. at the Morrow Center and will be catered by Carrabba's Italian Grill.