Kearney, Neb. – Former Nebraska Kearney student-athlete JoAn Scott recently received the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award from the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Scott, along with Curt Gowdy Media Award honorees, were honored during “Enshrinement Weekend” Oct. 12-14 in Springfield, Mass., and Uncasville, Conn. Award winners were announced in February 2024.
The John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award is given annually by the Basketball Hall of Fame to an individual who has made significant contributions to basketball. The award is named after the first chairman of the Basketball Hall of Fame Committee, John Bunn, who served from 1949 to 1969.
Scott has been an admired businesswoman in the basketball landscape for almost four decades, beginning in 1987 when she started at USA Basketball. The Ansley native worked at USA Basketball from 1987-96, culminating as the director of basketball operations from 1992-96. During that time, she was a staff administrator for the original Dream Team at the 1992 Olympics, as well as the 1996 Olympic team.JoAn Scott
Scott then spent the next 17 years at Nike (1996-2013), where she had key roles in the 2002 FIBA World Basketball Championship and the 2010 and 2012 Olympic Games. During her tenure at Nike, she managed and fostered relationships between the company and many universities.
After serving as the managing director of men’s basketball championships for the last 11 years, Scott has ascended to vice president of men’s basketball now with oversight of the NCAA Division I, II, and III Men’s Basketball Championships, the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), and the NCAA Men’s College Basketball Academy. She also manages the NCAA Championships Engagement Unit, which supports corporate partner activations, branding, marketing, fan events, and game presentations for all NCAA championships.
A 1986 graduate of Kearney State, Scott worked for then-head men’s basketball coach Jerry Hueser, was on the Student Alumni Board and completed an internship at Eaton Corp. Scott credit Huser for helping her get a job with USA Basketball. On the court, she was a key part of the 1984 volleyball team led by head coach Rosella Meier. The squad posted a 30-13-2 record and reached the NAIA National Tournament in St. Joseph, Mo. Scott was also on the basketball team.
Previous Bunn Award recipients include John Wooden, Henry Iba, Red Auerbach, Ray Meyer, Val Ackerman and the Harlem Globetrotters.
The recipients of the 2024 Gowdy awards were Debbie Antonelli (Electronic Media), J.A. Adande (Print Media), Dennis Page of SLAM Magazine (Media Award #1), and NBA Inside Stuff (Media Award #2)
