Legendary coach John Wooden once said, “I do not feel I was a coach, but rather a teacher”. If that is the case Dr. Jerry Krause is now the world’s foremost teacher of the game of basketball, through his life long dedication to making the game better. Krause has authored more than 30 books on coaching basketball, produced 31 instructional videos, six DVD’s, two CD’s and serves as a consultant to many athletic organizations. He is the most widely published coach in basketball history, surpassing the legendary Clair Bee.

Past Baden honorees include Marv Harshman (2003), Don Monson (2004) and last year’s recipient Jud Heathcote (2005). The award is presenting each year as part of the Comcast Battle in Seattle weekend to individuals who have shown life long contributions to the game of basketball in the Pacific Northwest.

Jerry Krause has been coaching the basics of basketball since 1959. His experience at the elementary, high school, college, and Olympic levels are unprecedented in the coaching profession.

Krause is no stranger to basketball in the Pacific Northwest. He had a 17-year career as head coach at Eastern Washington University. During that span, his Eagle teams posted a 262-196 record for a .572 winning percentage. After a one-year sabbatical to assist the late Ralph Miller at Oregon State University in 1982-1983, he returned to lead the Eagles from the NAIA and into the Division 1 ranks. On October 1, 2005, he was inducted into the EWU Athletic Hall of Fame.

Prior to becoming head coach at EWU, Krause had been an assistant at Northern Colorado for three years, and also had stints at Berthoud High in Loveland, Colo., and Adair-Casey Community Highs in Iowa.

Krause was a long-standing member of the NCAA Rules Committee, was on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Basketball Coaches and served on the Selection Committee of the National Basketball Hall of Fame. He still serves as Research Chair of the NABC. He is also a member of the NAIA Basketball Coaches and National Association for Sports and Physical Education Halls of Fame.

As a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, Krause was the chair of their National Research Committee and wrote the 1986 Code of Ethics. Krause received the NABC Appreciation Award for lifetime contributions to basketball. The NABC again honored him at the 2003 Final Four with its Guardians of the Game for Advocacy award for his research in developing a standardized rim testing program.

Jerry earned his bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University in 1959. He received a master’s degree in 1965 and his doctorate in 1967, both from Northern Colorado. In 2001, he was honored by UNC with an Alumni Achievement award for Contribution to Sport. The award is for alumni who have excelled in mentorship or role modeling while working with students in sports.

With more than 30 books published Jerry has sold more basketball publications than any other author in history. His works include Basketball Skills & Drills, Lessons from Legends, and the new NABC’s Youth Basketball Coaching Handbook, Beyond the Backboard.

Currently, Jerry is serving his second stint with the Gonzaga University men’s basketball program as the Director of Basketball Operations. He returned after a 5-year civilian term at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point where he was a professor of sports philosophy and Director of Instruction for the department of physical education.

For these accomplishments, Dr. Krause will be honored at a special evening reception on Friday December 29, 2006 in the main ballroom of the Red Lion Hotel on 5th Avenue at 7:00pm. Tickets for the reception are $20 and can only be reserved through the Gonzaga and Nevada ticket offices or by calling Northwest Sports at 480-635-8720. Coach Krause will also be recognized at halftime of the Gonzaga-Nevada game the following day.