For Hutchison, it's all timing : govolsxtra.com

Time keeps passing assists Jill Hutchison's way.

One arrived with her inclusion in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame's Class of 2009. Hutchison, who coached 28 seasons at Illinois State, will be one of six inductees honored at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Bijou Theatre.

Being retired, Hutchison has had more time to reflect on this honor and get past an initial why-me reaction.

"Frankly, I was wondering why I was getting inducted to begin with,'' she said.

Apparently she wondered whether 461 career victories - the most in Illinois State history (men or women) - added up to sufficient sizzle. There are no national championships or Women's Final Four appearances, although she did coach two medal-winning U.S. international teams.

Upon further reflection, though, Hutchison realized that she was in the right place at some pivotal times in the game's evolution.

She was a member of the national rules committee from 1970-84 and played a part in ushering the game to the five-player format and a smaller basketball.

At Illinois State, she served as host for the first AIAW national tournament in 1972.

Those moments were ground-breaking at the time and Hutchison anticipated their ripple effect.

"I think I appreciated the significance of these events when they happened,'' she said. "Oh my gosh, it was happening. All of these things you were hoping would happen, were happening."

She also was the first president of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and served two other terms. She chaired the WBCA's five-year planning committee.

Hutchison didn't take any of this for granted. During her undergraduate days at the University of New Mexico in the 1960s, she played AAU basketball. Two of her teammates were kicked out of school for competing because it was considered socially unacceptable.

Hutchison recalled asking in class, "Why is this OK for guys and not girls?" and "getting my rear end chewed from one end to the other."

The prevailing sentiment weighed heavily on the sport as it moved away from 3-on-3 play.

"I did my whole doctorate, trying to figure out why women were resistant to competition,'' she said. "There were so many physical education educators who thought it was so unethical. We were playing like guys."

In the formative years, Hutchison said that coaches relied more on each other, primarily because it was essential to the game's well-being. Tennessee coach Pat Summitt was particularly helpful.

"I always felt like Pat was a good friend,'' Hutchison said.

Summitt's timing couldn't have been better when she telephoned Hutchison during a trying season after Illinois State had suffered a difficult loss. Hutchison couldn't recall the opponent or the exact date - sometime in the early 1990s. But she did remember the letter of resignation she had written. It was on her desk when the phone rang.

"She probably talked me through it,'' Hutchison said of Summitt. "I think she reassured me that I knew what I was doing."

Said Summitt: "I do remember that. I don't remember the exact conversation. I thought Jill was too good to let that affect her. We've all been there. You have to remember this will pass."

Summitt also called when Hutchison announced her retirement, effective after the 1998-99 season.

"Are you sure you want to do this?'' Summitt asked. "Are you getting any pressure?"

This time, good friend, the time was right.

For Hutchison, it's all timing

Ex-Illinois St. coach can thank Summitt