by A fundraising initiative has been started by Truett McConnell University in memory of renowned women’s basketball coach Colby Tilley. The Cleveland-based university wants to earn at least $150,000 in order to formally rename their competitive basketball court Colby Tilley Court and create an endowment scholarship fund for TMU Women’s Basketball.
As a member of the TMU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018, Tilley guided the Lady Bears to a 234-46 (.836) record from 1976 to 1985, five consecutive Georgia State Championships, several Region XVII crowns, and the 1980 National Championship after a 36-2 campaign.
TMU will have a celebratory meal on Friday, February 13, 2026, prior to the season’s last home women’s basketball game the following day. Coach Tilley will be honored and celebrated at this time by the TMU women’s basketball team.
Click here or visit the Truett McConnell University website for additional details on how to give to the campaign and buy event tickets.
The coaching career of Tilley went well beyond TMU. After establishing the women’s basketball team at Auburn University in Montgomery with a 218-74 record, he went on to become the all-time winning coach at Kennesaw State University, accumulating 290 victories over 17 seasons. He has been inducted into the Halls of Fame at TMU, AUM, and KSU.
