Bridgette Gordon has a unique history in basketball.

From her humble beginnings in DeLand, Fla., to the University of Tennessee, she has a long history. She’s been a two-time All-American, an NCAA Champion twice (in 1987 and 1989) and won an Olympic gold medal in the 1988 Olympic Games.

After her playing career ended, Gordon was recognized in The University of Tennessee Hall of Fame and Women’s Basketball Sports Hall Of Fame in 2007.

Gordon will be added to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame on May 17, 2014, in Nashville.

Gordon is the recruiting coordinator and assistant coach at Wichita State. She is starting her fourth season on the Shockers’ staff. Coach Gordon said it was an honor being inducted.

“It is another blessing that is bestowed to me for all the hard work and dedication I put forward throughout my career,” Gordon said. “It’s a way for the state of Tennessee to recognize what I was able to accomplish in my playing career at the University of Tennessee.”

The former point guard is the second all-time scorer in Tennessee school history. Gordon led the Lady Volunteers to four Final Fours in her playing time in Knoxville.

Gordon led Tennessee to the 1987 and 1989 national titles, earning coach Pat Summitt her first and second national title in program history.

A self-confessed tomboy growing up, Gordon attributes her success to her upbringing and the value of hard work instilled by her family at a young age. Gordon said the desire to be the best in whatever she does fueled her throughout her career.

Gordon began playing basketball at the age of nine. She honed her craft by playing with her brother against the boys in the neighborhood for tougher competition.

Coach Gordon does not play a lot of basketball these days, due to being on the road recruiting and her coaching duties, but every now and then, she laces up her shoes to show the players in practice that she still can play the game.

“Most of my players do not really know what I have done in my playing career,” Gordon said. “They just know I’m Coach Gordon.”

When coaching, Gordon prefers not to make it about her or her accomplishments, unless she is trying to motivate a player. In those instances, she shows players her championship rings and gold medal to show what they can do if they put in the time and work when they step on the court.

In a career where most of her accomplishments occurred during a time when women’s basketball did not have the exposure it does now, Coach Gordon said she likes the direction women’s basketball is going — the players are faster, the girls are more athletic and the sport of women’s basketball is more popular than when she played.