RUSTON - Louisiana Tech head coach Kurt Budke will be one of three inductees in the 2003 Class for the National Junior College Athletic Association Hall of Fame, which was announced by the NJCAA Women's Basketball Coaches Association Monday.

Budke, who will have the distinction of being the youngest coach ever inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame, joins Clemson coach Jim Davis and former Stephen F. Austin coach Mary Ann Otwell in this year's class.

"I honestly thought that maybe someday down the line the numbers we put up at Trinity Valley might warrant consideration for such an honor," Budke said. "However, I was very surprised Thursday when I received the phone call informing me of the news. It is an incredible honor that I can share with my friends, family, former players and the community of Athens, Texas."

According to Leicht, the assistant executive director for the NJCAA, Budke was nominated on a number of ballots and then selected for the honor by members of the selection committee comprised of NJCAA Women's Basketball Coaches Association members.

"Kurt has always been and continues to be a tremendous advocate of NJCAA women's basketball," Leicht said. "During his time at Trinity Valley, he built a dynasty that was second to none. We are proud to recognize Coach Budke as a member of the NJCAA Women's Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame."

The honor will be even more special for Budke as the Hall of Fame and induction ceremony are both located in the 41-year-old's hometown of Salina, Kansas. The ceremony will occur at the Player Banquet March 17 prior to the NJCAA Division I National Championship game.

"The last title I won in 1999 was special because it occurred in Salina," Budke said. "To be inducted in my hometown where my mother and father still live makes it even more special."

Prior to accepting the associate head coach position at Louisiana Tech in 2000, Budke built Trinity Valley Community College into the premiere women's junior college program in the country, amassing an incredible record of 226 wins and only 16 losses during his seven seasons at the Athens, Texas, based school.

Budke led Trinity Valley to a record six straight NJCAA national championship games, winning four national titles. Under Budke, Trinity Valley posted a 96-2 record in Texas East Conference games while claiming seven straight league titles. During the 1994 national tournament, Budke and company set another NJCAA record by scoring over 100 points in each of the four tournament games.

"Coach Budke is one of the greatest coaches I have ever played for, and he is very deserving of this honor," said Betty Lennox, who played for Budke at Trinity Valley prior to lettering at Tech for two years. "It's a great honor and he definitely belongs in the Hall of Fame. Not only is Coach (Budke) a great role model on the floor, but he has always been a great influence in my life off the court as well. I just cherish my relationship with him."

The Washburn University graduate earned the Women's Basketball Coaches Association National Coach of the Year Award in 1995 and 1998. Budke coached four eventual WNBA stars at Trinity Valley in Betty Lennox, Shalonda Enis, Tausha Mills and Shantia Owens.

In his first year at the helm of the Louisiana Tech women's basketball program, Budke has led the Lady Techsters to a 15-2 record and a No. 9 ranking in this week's Associated Press poll.

The NJCAA Hall of Fame is located at the Bicentennial Center in Salina, Kansas, and was formed in 1998, making Budke a member of only the sixth class ever inducted.