October 28, 2021, Blair announced he would retire from coaching at the conclusion of the 2021-22 season. USA Basketball Gary Blair was named the assistant coach of the 1996 R. William Jones Cup Team. The competition was held in Taipei, Taiwan. The USA team was dominant, winning their games by an average off 33 points per game. The USA team won their opening seven games, behind the scoring leadership of Sheri Sam, who averaged 13 points per game. In the eighth game, they played undefeated Slovakia, in a game that would determine the gold medal. The USA fell behind; Slovakia had a 22–15 lead. The USA came back, but was still behind at halftime. The game was tied at 45 all, when the USA hit several free throws to take a lead they would not give up. The USA team won the game and the championship 72–62. In the final game, the USA beat South Korea to finish the competition with a perfect 9–3 record. Coaching honors Blair has received the following honors over his coaching career: 2013 Women's Basketball Hall of Fame 2009 Southland Conference Hall of Honor inductee 2008 Stephen F. Austin State University Ladyjack Hall of Fame inductee 2007 Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year 2007 Naismith College Coach of the Year finalist 2007 Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Coach of the Year 2006 Women's Basketball News Service National Coach of the Year 2003 Naismith Coach of the Year Finalist 2002 Texas High School Basketball Hall of Famer 1996 U.S. Jones Cup Team Assistant Coach 1995 Basketball Times National Coach of the Year 1995 Women's Basketball News Service National Coach of the Year Five-time Southland Conference Coach of the Year (1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993) Five-time District VI Converse Coach of the Year Hall of Fame Blair was inducted in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in June 2013. Joe McKeown, the head women's basketball coach at Northwestern delivered the introduction speech by videotape. His credentials include 28 years of head coaching experience at Stephen F. Austin, Arkansas and Texas A&M with a 71% lifetime winning percentage, along with the 2011 Division I National Championship. Coaching style He stresses offensive rebounding and defense to his teams, and his 2007 Texas A&M team ranked among the nation's best in scoring defense, blocked shots, and steals. Much of his recruiting is done in-state, and Blair says that he