Colby Tilley
By MAE SULLENS, Truett McConnell University
CLEVELAND, Ga. — Truett McConnell University is calling on alumni, friends, and supporters to act now as the Colby Tilley Court Campaign enters the final weeks leading up to the Colby Tilley Celebration Dinner on Feb. 13, 2026. Momentum is building, but critical support is still needed to reach the $150,000 goal.
The TMU family has already rallied in impressive fashion – 12 tables have been sold, and nearly one-third of the campaign’s goal has been raised. Though this early momentum is encouraging, significant progress is still needed to complete this once-in-a-generation opportunity.
The Colby Tilley Court Campaign honors one of the most beloved and accomplished coaches in TMU history while securing the future of TMU women’s basketball. The campaign not only seeks to rename the university’s basketball court as the Colby Tilley Court, but also to create an endowed scholarship fund for TMU women’s basketball.
Coach Colby Tilley, a 2018 inductee into the TMU Athletics Hall of Fame, led the Lady Bears from 1976–1985 to national prominence, compiling an extraordinary 234–46 (.836) record, capturing five consecutive Georgia State Championships, multiple Region XVII titles, and the 1980 National Championship with a remarkable 36–2 season. His legacy extends beyond TMU, including hall-of-fame coaching careers at Auburn University at Montgomery and Kennesaw State University.
The Celebration Dinner will be a powerful evening of gratitude, testimony, and vision, bringing together former players, alumni, and friends to honor Coach Tilley’s leadership, faith, and lifelong impact. Table sponsorships are filling quickly, and the window to participate in this historic occasion is narrowing. The new court will be unveiled on Saturday, April 14, as the TMU women’s basketball team takes on Spartanburg Methodist College.
Supporters are encouraged to take action now by:
- Sponsoring a table or purchasing tickets for the Celebration Dinner on Feb. 13, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
- Making a meaningful gift toward the Colby Tilley Endowed Scholarship Fund.
To explore sponsorship opportunities, alternate payment methods, or to ask questions, please contact Andee McCall at
amccall@truett.edu.
With just weeks remaining, TMU invites its community to help finish strong. Together, we can honor a legend, inspire future student-athletes, and make Colby Tilley Court a lasting reality at Truett McConnell University.
