University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Bobby Cremins & Debbie Antonelli to headline UNC Asheville’s “Celebration on the Court”
08.16.2022 | General, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville Athletics Department proudly announced on Tuesday that college basketball coaching legend Bobby Cremins (keynote speaker) and college basketball analyst Debbie Antonelli (emcee) will headline this year's "Celebration on the Court". This event, which is once again sponsored by Kimmel & Associates, will take place on Thursday, October 20, at Kimmel Arena.
The dinner event, which is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., will serve as a tip-off for the 2022-23 UNC Asheville men's and women's basketball seasons. Proceeds from "Celebration on the Court" will support UNC Asheville student-athletes.
Cremins, who is now retired from coaching, had a long and prosperous career in college basketball. After starring as a player for South Carolina, Cremins turned to coaching upon graduating holding assistant positions at Point Park College in Pittsburgh and his alma mater South Carolina. At just 27 years old in 1975, Cremins became one of the youngest head coaches in Division I men's basketball as he took the reins at Appalachian State. He won three regular season conference championships during his time leading the Mountaineers and coached them to a NCAA Tournament appearance in 1979.
Cremins' most noteworthy accomplishments, though, came at Georgia Tech. He led the Yellow Jackets for nearly two decades (1981-2000) where he racked up 354 wins, 10 NCAA Tournament appearances, and a trip to the Final Four in 1990. He coached a number of future NBA players during his time with the Yellow Jackets, including Stephon Marbury, Dennis Scott, Kenny Anderson, John Salley, and Mark Price, and many others. He also served as assistant coach for Team USA at the 1996 Summer Olympics (the second "Dream Team"), which won the gold medal.
After briefly retiring, Cremins came out of retirement in 2006 to lead the College of Charleston. He won over 100 games guiding the Cougars in his five-plus seasons at the helm with three postseason appearances during that stretch. In 31 seasons as a collegiate head coach, Cremins holds a record of 586-379 for a .607 winning percentage.
A native of North Carolina and graduate of North Carolina State, Bulldog fans should be familiar with Antonelli who served as the emcee for the inaugural "Celebration on the Court" last October. She was also honored with the "Trailblazer Award" at the "Our Turn to Play" Scholarship Dinner last spring. Antonelli began her career in athletics as a star student-athlete, leading the Wolfpack to four Women's NCAA Tournament appearances. She later got into coaching and athletic administration, before gaining national acclaim as a basketball analyst and sports broadcaster. Antonelli has since spent 34 years in the television industry, sharing the stories of collegiate athletes to homes all across the country, and was recently inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. Antonelli has spent time broadcasting with ESPN, the ACC network, the Big Ten Network, CBS Sports, and FOX. On top of all of this, she has worked behind the scenes to improve the Women's NCAA Tournament, fighting for equitable treatment and resources for female athletes compared to their male counterparts.
In addition to all her career accomplishments, Antonelli has mentored and assisted numerous coaches in their careers. Even after her coaching career came to a close, Antonelli continued to hold clinics and camps for young athletes. She has also dedicated much of her life to supporting the Special Olympics and her middle son, Frankie, who was born with special needs, through her 24 Hours Nothing but Net Fundraiser.
To purchase tickets for this event, click HERE.
The dinner event, which is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., will serve as a tip-off for the 2022-23 UNC Asheville men's and women's basketball seasons. Proceeds from "Celebration on the Court" will support UNC Asheville student-athletes.
Cremins, who is now retired from coaching, had a long and prosperous career in college basketball. After starring as a player for South Carolina, Cremins turned to coaching upon graduating holding assistant positions at Point Park College in Pittsburgh and his alma mater South Carolina. At just 27 years old in 1975, Cremins became one of the youngest head coaches in Division I men's basketball as he took the reins at Appalachian State. He won three regular season conference championships during his time leading the Mountaineers and coached them to a NCAA Tournament appearance in 1979.
Cremins' most noteworthy accomplishments, though, came at Georgia Tech. He led the Yellow Jackets for nearly two decades (1981-2000) where he racked up 354 wins, 10 NCAA Tournament appearances, and a trip to the Final Four in 1990. He coached a number of future NBA players during his time with the Yellow Jackets, including Stephon Marbury, Dennis Scott, Kenny Anderson, John Salley, and Mark Price, and many others. He also served as assistant coach for Team USA at the 1996 Summer Olympics (the second "Dream Team"), which won the gold medal.
After briefly retiring, Cremins came out of retirement in 2006 to lead the College of Charleston. He won over 100 games guiding the Cougars in his five-plus seasons at the helm with three postseason appearances during that stretch. In 31 seasons as a collegiate head coach, Cremins holds a record of 586-379 for a .607 winning percentage.
A native of North Carolina and graduate of North Carolina State, Bulldog fans should be familiar with Antonelli who served as the emcee for the inaugural "Celebration on the Court" last October. She was also honored with the "Trailblazer Award" at the "Our Turn to Play" Scholarship Dinner last spring. Antonelli began her career in athletics as a star student-athlete, leading the Wolfpack to four Women's NCAA Tournament appearances. She later got into coaching and athletic administration, before gaining national acclaim as a basketball analyst and sports broadcaster. Antonelli has since spent 34 years in the television industry, sharing the stories of collegiate athletes to homes all across the country, and was recently inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. Antonelli has spent time broadcasting with ESPN, the ACC network, the Big Ten Network, CBS Sports, and FOX. On top of all of this, she has worked behind the scenes to improve the Women's NCAA Tournament, fighting for equitable treatment and resources for female athletes compared to their male counterparts.
In addition to all her career accomplishments, Antonelli has mentored and assisted numerous coaches in their careers. Even after her coaching career came to a close, Antonelli continued to hold clinics and camps for young athletes. She has also dedicated much of her life to supporting the Special Olympics and her middle son, Frankie, who was born with special needs, through her 24 Hours Nothing but Net Fundraiser.
To purchase tickets for this event, click HERE.
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