Former president Bill Clinton honors NC State's Kay Yow

Updated: January 27, 2009, 4:55 PM ET

Clinton praises late coach Yow

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Associated Press

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To make a donation to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund, visit www.JimmyV.org.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Bill Clinton says he admired former North Carolina State women's basketball coach Kay Yow for the way she lived during her two-decade fight with cancer.

The former president opened a talk Monday at North Carolina State University by honoring Yow, who died Saturday at 66.

The Hall of Fame coach was with N.C. State for 34 seasons and coached a gold-winning U.S. Olympic team a year after she was diagnosed.

For many fans, Yow inspired admiration for her unwavering resolve in fighting breast cancer. She raised awareness and money for research and stayed with her team even amid chemotherapy.

Clinton, whose mother died of breast cancer, says he admired Yow "enormously." He was in Raleigh speaking on national and international policy.