Hall of Fame
Donna Wise, after 32 seasons as head basketball coach, is ranked as the winningest coach in NAIA Division 1 basketball. On December 12, 2003, she became one of 12 female coaches nationally and Kentucky’s only female coach to win 600 games.
Her .724 winning percentage in the 944 games she coached ranks in the NAIA’s top ten. In 23 seasons, Wise directed her teams to 20 or more wins finishing with 661 wins with only 283 losses. Campbellsville ranked as the fifth winningest program and top three in the NAIA in trips to the national tournament with 17 during her career.
Campbellsville captured eight consecutive conference or district championships during her tenure, and her teams made NAIA Elite Eight appearances five times. She also coached 23 players who accumulated 46 All-American awards.
Wise has received 20 awards from various associations recognizing her as Coach of the Year. The NAIA inducted her into its Hall of Fame in 2000. Her alma mater, Eastern Kentucky University, recognized her with the Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 2005. She has also been Campbellsville’s Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year and Educator of the Year, and the Business and Professional Women’s Club recognized Wise with its Women of the Year achievement award.
Following retirement in 2007, Wise continued her efforts internationally helping to build a basketball court in Zambia while providing instruction to AIDS orphans in local villages. In 2001, she conducted basketball clinics throughout Brazil.
From the moment she took the court in November of 1975 at Campbellsville, “Wiz” as she is fondly referred as, has implemented her philosophy of commitment to accepting nothing but the best from oneself in life’s journey of sharing God’s love and purpose through basketball.
