TO CONGRATULATE BISHOP ENGLAND HIGH SCHOOL'S ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AND VARSITY GIRLS' BASKETBALL COACH, PAUL RUNEY, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS 600TH CAREER WIN AND TO RECOGNIZE THE SCHOOL'S ATHLETIC PROGRAM FOR ITS SUCCESS UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP.

Whereas, Coach Paul Runey celebrated his 600th career win on January 17, 2015 against rival Porter-Gaud; and

Whereas, Coach Runey is a 1974 graduate of Bishop England High School and has been involved with the athletic program there for forty years. He currently coaches the varsity girls' basketball team and serves as the school's athletic director, a position he has held for sixteen years; and

Whereas, under his leadership as athletic director, the Bishop England athletic program has accumulated many national rankings, including being named by Sports Illustrated magazine as the number one athletic program in the state of South Carolina in 2009. Bishop England's program was ranked fifth in the nation in a 2013 MaxPreps ranking and the school has been awarded the South Carolina "Athletic Director's Cup" for each of the last twelve years, and in 2013, USA Today named the athletic program among the nation's top ten high school programs; and

Whereas, Coach Runey has demonstrated his outstanding leadership skills while serving as the North-South All Star Game assistant coach and also as head coach and again as head coach of the South Carolina All-Star Team's Carolinas' Classic Game. He has had six teams reach the Lower State championship, and has been named the Post and Courier's "Coach of the Year" twice. Coach Runey has also been an active member of the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association and was inducted into their 2014 Hall of Fame; and

Whereas, the members of the Senate appreciate the pride and recognition that Coach Runey has brought to Bishop England and the members look forward to hearing of his continued accomplishments. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, congratulate Bishop England High School's athletic director and varsity girls' basketball coach, Paul Runey, upon the occasion of his 600th career win and recognize the school's athletic program for its success under his leadership.