North Georgia to honor Bill Ensley with formal court dedication ceremony

DAHLONEGA -- Long-time athletic director and head men's basketball coach Bill Ensley will be honored by the University of North Georgia athletic department on Saturday in a formal court naming ceremony. <br /> <br /> The day has been tabbed Bill Ensley Day and begins with a reception with all former players at 12:30 p.m. in the Military Leadership Center (MLC) on the Dahlonega campus.<br /> <br /> Coach Ensley will be formally announced as the court's namesake during a halftime ceremony of the women's game with Clayton State. The women's game is set to tip off at 1:30 p.m. in Memorial Hall. In addition to the court naming presentation, all former men's basketball players in attendance will be recognized during the ceremony.<br /> <br /> "Coach Ensley is entrenched in the foundation of not only North Georgia athletics, but in the university as a whole," stated director of athletics Lindsay Reeves. "He has remained committed to the Nighthawks and we are pleased to have his name stand forever as a testament to his outstanding legacy at North Georgia."<br /> <br /> Ensley is one of the most recognizable names in the history of North Georgia athletics. He served as director of athletics for 24 years and re-established the men's basketball program in 1971, serving as the head coach for 18 years, in which he never saw a losing season.<br /> <br /> Ensley led the Saints to the district playoffs 11 times, capturing consecutive district championships titles in 1983 and '84. He was named Atlanta Tip-Off Club Coach of the Year and GIAC Coach of the Year in 1976, and recorded an overall record of 327-206 during his 18-year tenure at the helm of the men's basketball program.<br /> <br /> In 1994, Ensley was named to the NAIA Hall of Fame and was the recipient of the NAIA's Athletic Administrator of the Year award in 1991.