Belmont naming residence hall in honor of women's basketball pioneer Betty Wiseman
Belmont's newest residence hall will be named in honor of Bruins women's basketball pioneer Betty Wiseman.
The hall is currently under construction and due to open in August. It is a 718-bed facility currently known as Caldwell II.
Wiseman, a Portland, Tennessee native, founded Belmont's women's basketball team in 1968. It served as one of Belmont's first women's sports teams four years before Title IX was enacted.
Wiseman graduated from Belmont three years earlier and been hired as an instructor of physical education and health at the school.
She wasted little time building Belmont's women's basketball program into a national power. After its inaugural 10-game season Belmont posted seven straight winning records including back-to-back 20-plus win seasons in 1973-74 and 1974-75. Wiseman was the NWIT coach of the year in 1977.
Wiseman, who still attends every Belmont home game and some on the road, led Belmont to wins over Tennessee, Vanderbilt, North Carolina, Alabama and Nebraska during her tenure. She finished her coaching career in 1984 with a 247-151 record.
Wiseman then embarked on a career in athletic administration, which stretched over the next four decades. She served as senior woman administrator and assistant athletics director.
In 2004 Wiseman became the first Belmont coach inducted into the Tennessee State Sports Hall of Fame. She also was inducted into the Belmont Athletics Hall of Fame and the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame.
The Tennessean named Wiseman to its Legendary Ladies: Middle Tennessee's Elite Eight in 2014.
A dedication ceremony will take place Feb. 22 (3 p.m.) during Belmont's 2025 Homecoming Weekend in the Beaman Student Life Center.
Bud Brandon, Troy Bond inducted into Lebanon Hall of Fame
Bud Brandon and Troy Bond were inducted into the Wilson Central High Sports Hall of Fame. Brandon was Wilson Central’s first girl’s basketball coach and Bond was the first boy’s coach.
Brandon, the son of legendary Lebanon coach Campbell Brandon, posted a 302-113 record over 13 seasons at Wilson Central. He led the Lady Wildcats to the Class AAA state championships in 2006 and 2008.
Bond, who played at Tennessee State, posted a 292-152 record during his time at Wilson Central.
Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway championship banquet
The Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway Championship Awards & Season Kick Off party is set for March 16.
It will be from 4-7 p.m. at the Nashville Fairgrounds Expo 3. Refreshments and light d'oeuvres will be served.
The 2023 champions in seven divisions − pro late models, super trucks, limited late models, street stocks, pure stocks, front runners, Bandoleros − will officially be crowned.
Admission is $15 per person and available at fairgroundsspeedwaybanquet. The deadline to apply is March 7.
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