Bernadette Mattox facts for kids

Bernadette Locke-Mattox (born December 31, 1958) is a famous former basketball coach. She once led the University of Kentucky women's basketball team. In 1990, while at Kentucky, she made history. She became the first woman to be an assistant coach for a men's NCAA Division I basketball team. This was under coach Rick Pitino. Later, she also worked as an assistant coach for the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA.

Bernadette Locke-Mattox: A Basketball Pioneer

Bernadette Locke-Mattox has had an amazing career in basketball. She started as a player and then became a coach. Her journey includes coaching both men's and women's teams. She also helped the USA win a gold medal!

Early Career and Coaching Milestones

Bernadette Locke-Mattox has coached basketball for many years. She worked with different teams and helped many players.

Making History: Coaching Men's Basketball

From 1990 to 1994, Bernadette was an assistant coach for the University of Kentucky men's basketball team. This was a very big deal! She was the first woman ever to be an assistant coach for a men's top-level college basketball team. She worked with head coach Rick Pitino.

After that, she became the head coach for the University of Kentucky women's basketball team. She led them from 1995 to 2003. Later, from 2003 to 2012, she was an assistant coach for the Connecticut Sun. This is a professional team in the WNBA.

Winning Gold with Team USA

In 1998, Bernadette Mattox was chosen to be an assistant coach for the USA National Team. This team played in the World Championships in Germany.

The USA team played really well. They won all six of their first games. Most of these wins were by a lot of points. In the quarter-finals, they beat Slovakia. Then, in the semi-finals, they played Brazil. The USA team was behind at first, but they came back to win!

The championship game was against Russia. The USA team had beaten Russia easily before. But this game was much tougher. The USA team was behind for most of the game. They were down by nine points at halftime. With less than two minutes left, they were still behind.

Then, Ruthie Bolton made a three-point shot! This gave the USA team a one-point lead. Russia tied the game, but Bolton made another three-pointer. This gave the USA team a lead they kept. The USA team won 71–65. They won the gold medal!

Life Off the Court

Bernadette Locke is married to Vince Mattox. They live in Lexington, Kentucky. They have a son named Vincent, who goes to Murray State University. Bernadette and her twin sister, Juliette, both graduated from Loudon High School in Loudon, Tennessee in 1977.