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• About the Dick Enberg Award
CSC Selects Tamika Catchings as 2023 Dick Enberg Award Recipient
by Kobe Mosley – College Sports Communicators
Tamika Catchings is a basketball legend who has dedicated her time away from the court to motivating and uplifting others. For Catchings’ outstanding achievements as a player and her commitment to serving her community, College Sports Communicators (CSC) has selected her as the 2023
Dick Enberg Award recipient.
The Dick Enberg Award is presented annually to an individual who has distinguished themselves nationally through their career achievement and meaningful contributions to society while promoting the values of education and academics.
“I am truly honored to accept this award in honor of Mr. Enberg and alongside all of the other award winners,” Catchings said. “Dick Enberg's focus on impact through education and academics aligns with everything that we focus on through our
Catch the Stars Foundation. Thank you so much for thinking of me and I'm truly honored to accept this award."
Tamika Catchings gives back to local youth by hosting her 21st annual Catch the Stars Youth Holiday Basketball Camp-December 2022. Over 3,000 young people have participated in her camps throughout the years.
Catchings is the 27th Enberg Award recipient. She will be recognized, along with the CSC Academic All-America Hall of Fame® Class of 2023, in a
luncheon June 13 during the
CSC Unite Convention.
“When the CSC Executive Board considers candidates for the Enberg award each year, we seek people who use their platform to carry out Dick’s passion for education and service,” CSC President
Jessica Poole said. “Tamika is a shining example of these values. Through her foundation Catch the Stars, she focuses on youth development. Through her entrepreneurship, she provides a place for people to gather at her cafes in Indianapolis. Tamika is deserving of this honor, and we look forward to celebrating her and her accomplishments in June.”
Catchings excelled at every level of her basketball career. In high school, she won three state championships. She played college basketball at the University of Tennessee for the legendary Pat Summitt. In her four years playing for the Lady Vols, Catchings was a four-time All-American, played a vital role on the 1997-98 undefeated national championship team, and won national player-of-the-year honors for the 1999-2000 season. She is one of five players to have their number retired by the Lady Vols.
In the 2001 WNBA Draft, Catchings was selected third overall by the Indiana Fever. After missing the 2001 season because of injury, she took home rookie-of-the-year honors in 2002. Throughout her 15-year WNBA career, she won the league MVP in 2011, won the WNBA Championship and Finals MVP in 2012, was a 10-time All-Star, and earned defensive player of the year five times.
Throwback photo from Tamika Catchings' Lady Vols playing days. Catchings was the 2000 AP Player of the Year.
A member of USA Basketball since she was in high school, Catchings competed in four Olympic Games (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016), winning the gold medal each time. She also won gold at two World Championships (2002, 2010) and bronze at another (2006).
Catchings retired from the WNBA in 2016. At the time of her retirement, she ranked in the top 10 in several statistical categories in both franchise and league history including points, rebounds and steals. Her jersey was retired in 2017 and she was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020.
Catchings’ post-retirement life has been serving the game she loves in different roles. She has served as a game analyst for women’s basketball games on the SEC Network, director of player programs and franchise development for Pacers Sports & Entertainment, and the vice president of basketball operations and general manager for the Indiana Fever.
Today, Catchings focuses on philanthropic work through her Catch the Stars Foundation. Started in 2004, the foundation “empowers disadvantaged youth to achieve their dreams by providing goal-setting programs that promote fitness, literacy, and youth development.” Catch the Stars has put on fitness clinics and basketball camps, partnered with nearby food shelters, and has also established a college scholarship program.
Catchings also operates Tea’s Me Cafes in Indianapolis. The tea bars are well-known throughout the city for their inviting spaces.
“Dick Enberg was a true advocate for CSC and our Academic All-America programs,” CSC Executive Director Erik Christianson said. “To honor Dick and his family each year by selecting someone who uses their gifts to ensure the next generation has access and ability to pursue higher education is important to our membership. Tamika makes her community a better place by encouraging young people to pursue their dreams. She is the perfect selection for this award.”
The CSC Unite Convention — previously the CoSIDA Convention — is held each year in conjunction with the annual National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and Affiliates Convention. This year’s convention will be held June 11-14 at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Florida.
Gallery: (3-28-2023) Tamika Catchings 2023 Dick Enberg Award
Previous Dick Enberg Award Recipients
Dick Enberg
2022 Patricia Melton, Yale University / New Haven Promise
2021 Billie Jean King, Cal State LA/Tennis and Women's Rights Icon
2020 Amy Privette Perko, Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics
2019 Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech
2018 Bill Walton, UCLA/NBA Hall of Famer
2017 Dr. Robert Khayat, Former Chancellor, University of Mississippi
2016 Roger Staubach, United States Naval Academy/Pro Football Hall of Famer, Dallas Cowboys
2015 Andre Agassi, International Tennis Hall of Famer
2014 Ann Meyers Drysdale, Basketball Hall of Famer, UCLA/Vice President, Phoenix Mercury & Suns
2013 Mike Krzyzewski, Head Men's Basketball Coach, Duke University
2012 Joe Paterno, Head Football Coach Emeritus, Penn State University
2011 Jackie Joyner-Kersee, UCLA, United States Olympian
2010 Tom Hansen, Commissioner Emeritus, Pac-10 Conference
2009 Steve Smith, Former Basketball Standout, Michigan State & NBA
2008 Chuck Lee, CEO Emeritus, GTE Corporation
2007 Pat Summit, Head Women's Basketball Coach Emeritus, University of Tennessee
2006 Gerald R. Ford, Former U.S. President
2005 Father Theodore Hesburgh, President Emeritus, University of Notre Dame
2004 Dr. Ted Leland, Director of Athletics Emeritus, Stanford University
2003 Dr. Tom Osborne, Director of Athletics/Head Football Coach Emeritus, University of Nebraska
2002 Judge Alan Page, Associate Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court
2001 Dr. Donna Shalala, President, Clinton Foundations; former President, University of Miami/Former U.S. Secretary of Education
2000 Bill Russell, Basketball Hall of Famer, University of San Francisco/Boston Celtics
1999 Dean Smith, Head Men's Basketball Coach Emeritus, University of North Carolina
1998 John Humenik, Former CoSIDA Executive Director, University of Florida/CoSIDA Board
1997 Dick Enberg, Hall of Fame Broadcaster/National Baseball Hall of Fame Ford C. Frick Award