The Athletes with Disabilities welcomed Jud Heathcote, former Head Coach of Men's Basketball at Michigan State University for 19 years. Heathcote is the all-time winningest coach in MSU history with a record of 420-273. He led the Spartans to the NCAA Championship in 1979, 9 NCAA Tournament Berths, 3 Big Ten Titles and 3 appearances in the NIT.

Named Coach of the Year numerous times, Heathcote knows what it takes to succeed in athletics, and has mentored many a basketball superstar. Among the players he has coached are numerous NBA players, All-Americans, Big Ten Scoring title winners and a National Collegiate Player of the Year. These players include Steve Smith, Scott Skiles, Magic Johnson, Shawn Respert, Eric Snow, Jamie Feick among others.

A truly crowd-pleasing speaker, Heathcote served as our Honorary Chairman for the 2003 Induction Ceremony and Awards Dinner. Guests enjoyed his celebrated rhetoric -- whether a Spartan, Wolverine or neither!

Heathcote now resides in Washington state with his wife, but is a frequent visitor to Michigan and East Lansing.

Our 5th Anniversary Induction Ceremony and Awards Dinner was held on Thursday, October 2, 2003 at The Ritz-Carlton, Dearborn.