1962–1980,1982–2004 Name Sue Gunter | Role Basketball Coach Titles Head coach | |
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Sport(s) Women's college basketball Team 1962–1964Middle Tennessee State University1964–1980Stephen F. Austin State University1982–2004Louisiana State University Overall MTSU 44–0 (1.000)SFA 266–87 (.754)LSU 442–221 (.667)NCAA 708–308 (.697)All 752–308 (.709) Died August 4, 2005, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States | ||
Coach nikki caldwell on what sue gunter means to women s basketball
Sue Gunter (May 22, 1939 – August 4, 2005) was an American women's college basketball coach. She is best known as the head coach of the Louisiana State University (LSU) Lady Tigers basketball team.
Contents
- Coach nikki caldwell on what sue gunter means to women s basketball
- Sue gunter s basketball hall of fame enshrinement speech
- AAU and USA Basketball player
- College coaching
- Head coaching record
- USA Basketball coaching
- Awards and honors
- References
Sue gunter s basketball hall of fame enshrinement speech
AAU and USA Basketball player
A fine player in her own right, Gunter played Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball for Nashville Business College from 1958 to 1962 earning AAU All-America honors in 1960. She attended George Peabody College for Teachers (now part of Vanderbilt University), with Nera White. Gunter obtained both a bachelor's and a master's degree from Peabody in 1962. George Peabody did not have a women's basketball team, so she played for the AAU team in Nashville sponsored by Nashville Business College. She was also a member of the U.S. National Team, which competed against the Soviet Union, from 1960-1962.
College coaching
Gunter began her coaching career at Middle Tennessee State University where she led the Blue Raiders to undefeated seasons in both of her years there (1962–1964). Gunter then had a very successful coaching stint at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) in Nacogdoches, Texas. While at SFA, Gunter led the LadyJacks to a 266-87 mark in 16 years as head coach (1964–1980). In addition, she led SFA to four top 10 national rankings, including top 5 final rankings in 1979 and 1980. While at SFA, Gunter coached four sports—women's basketball, softball, tennis and track. Her basketball teams went to five Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) playoffs, won four state titles, and earned a regional crown. In 1980, she stepped down as coach at SFA and moved into the position of Director of Women's Athletics where she served two years before returning to the coaching ranks at LSU.
In Gunter's 22 years as the head coach at LSU (1982–2004), the Lady Tigers played in 14 NCAA Tournaments and two WNITs. Gunter led LSU to one Final Four in 2004 and to the Elite Eight in 1986, 2000 and 2003. She led the Lady Tigers to a championship at the WNIT in 1985 and to SEC Tournament Championships in 1991 and 2003. In addition, Gunter directed LSU to 14 seasons of 20 or more wins, including one 30-win season.
In the middle of the 2003-2004 season, she became ill and took a medical leave of absence in March 2004. She was later diagnosed as having emphysema and pneumonia. Pokey Chatman, her top assistant, assumed duties as interim coach for the rest of the season. The Tigers went 15-5 under Chatman's watch and reached the Final Four for the first time in school history. However, LSU credits the entire season to Gunter. When it was apparent that Gunter would not be able to return, she formally announced her retirement on April 27 and Chatman was named her successor.
Gunter completed her career as the third winningest women's basketball coach in NCAA history with an overall record of 708-308 (behind only Jody Conradt and Pat Summitt). Gunter's LSU record was 442-221, making her the winningest coach in school history. She completed her career among the leaders in several NCAA coaching categories: seasons coached (No. 1 - 40); games coached (No. 3 - 1,016); wins (No. 3 - 708); and 20-win seasons (No. 4 - 22).
Head coaching record
* Gunter went on medical leave in the middle of the 2003-04 season. Assistant Pokey Chatman coached the final 20 games of the season, but LSU credits the entire season to Gunter.
USA Basketball coaching
In 1980, the United States Olympic Team selected Gunter as the head women's basketball coach. Gunter guided her team to the title at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament prior to the Games, however, they did not compete for a gold medal due to the United States' boycott of the Olympic Games in Moscow.
Gunter shared success at the Olympics, however, as an assistant coach of the 1976 U. S. Team which captured the silver medal in Montreal. She has also served as head coach for the U.S. National Team three times in 1976, 1978 and 1980.
Awards and honors
While at LSU, Gunter was named the SEC's Coach of the Year in 1997 and 1999. She was also the Converse Region IV Coach of the Year in 1983; the Basketball News National Coach of the Year in 1983; the Louisiana Coach of the Year in 1983, 1997, 2002, and 2003; the Carol Eckman Award recipient in 1994; and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Regional Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2003.
In 2000, she was elected to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Knoxville, Tennessee. On April 4, 2005, Gunter was elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. She was enshrined posthumously in September 2005.
In 2005, Gunter, along with timber industrialist Roy O. Martin, Jr., the civil rights pioneer Andrew Young, the comedian Kix Brooks, and the Louisiana State University football legend Paul Dietzel were named a "Louisiana Legend" by Louisiana Public Broadcasting.
Gunter died at her home in Baton Rouge on August 4, 2005, of respiratory problems and emphysema. She was 66.