Hall of Famer Sue Gunter

The late Sue Gunter, a 2005 inductee into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, will always be remembered as not only one of the greatest coaches in women’s basketball history, but also as a pioneer in the game. Gunter passed away on Aug. 4, 2005. Gunter, who became the third women’s coach in history to reach 700 career victories with a win over Arkansas on Feb. 12, 2004, was with women’s basketball on the collegiate level every step of the way and saw the sport evolve from a novelty back in the early 1960s to present day, where the Final Four is sold out years in advance and games are shown nightly on national television.

Gunter, who was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in June 2000, 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).

Gunter’s influence was a catalyst behind the growth of the game and things were no different in Baton Rouge as the Lady Tigers continue to play before school-record crowds and media attention is at an alltime high. In Gunter’s 22-year tenure at LSU, her list of accomplishments are long and impressive -- 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, one trip to the Final Four, four NCAA Elite Eight appearances, eight NCAA Sweet 16 appearances, two SEC Tournament titles, a Women’s NIT title, and a handful of Coach of the Year awards.

Gunter added one final accolade to her historic career when she was inducted into the LSU Athletic Hall of Fame on April 24, 2010.

SUE GUNTER – THE COACH

Sue Gunter brought the LSU women’s basketball program back to national prominence. After a three-year hiatus in the mid-1990’s that saw the Lady Tigers suffer through the school’s first-ever losing seasons, LSU returned to the post-season, and in Gunter’s final year as head coach in 2003-04, advanced to the program’s first NCAA Final Four.

To realize just how far the Lady Tigers have come, one has to go back to the 1994-95 season, the worst year in school history as LSU posted a 7-20 overall mark. Strangely enough, it was the 1994-95 season that proved to be the turning point for the Lady Tigers as Gunter turned up her recruiting magic and promptly signed the best class in school history. That class, which included future All-SEC selections in Elaine Powell, Pietra Gay and Toni Gross, won 46 games over two years and resurrected the LSU women’s basketball program. The Lady Tigers won an average of 22.5 games per season under Gunter since the 1994-95 campaign, including a then-school record 30 wins in 2002-03.

Her final season was undoubtedly one of Gunter’s finest on the court, despite not being on the bench for over half the season due to illness. The Lady Tigers won 27 games, finished second in the SEC with a 10-4 mark, received a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament’s West Region and advanced past Austin Peay, Maryland, No. 1 seed Texas and Georgia to reach the program’s first Final Four right down the road in New Orleans. Gunter coached in her 1,000 game on Jan. 25, 2004 and recorded her 700th career victory later in the season against Arkansas. Sophomore Seimone Augustus earned Kodak All-American honors and was the Louisiana Player of the Year.

Gunter completed her career as the third winningest women’s basketball coach in history with an overall record of 708-308, which included coaching stints at Middle Tennessee, Stephen F. Austin and LSU. Gunter’s LSU record was 442-221, which makes her the winningest coach in school history.

Under the direction of Gunter, the Lady Tigers played in 14 NCAA Tournaments, one National Women’s Invitational Tournament and two WNIT events. Gunter led LSU to one Final Four in 2004, and to the Elite Eight in 1986, 2000 and 2003, while leading the Lady Tigers to a championship at the National Women’s Invitational Tournament in 1985. In addition, Gunter directed LSU to 14 20-plus-win seasons, including one 30-win season.

THE GUNTER FILE

Years at LSU: 22 Overall Record: 708-308 (40 years) LSU Record: 442-221 (22 years) Hometown: Walnut Grove, Miss. Born: May 22, 1939 Alma Mater (Year): Peabody College (1962); Master’s - Peabody College (1962)

COACH GUNTER’S CAREER HONORS

2010 LSU Athletic Hall of Fame 2005 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee 2005 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Inductee 2003 WBCA Regional Coach of the Year 2003 Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Inductee 2000 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee 1999 WBCA District III Coach of the Year 1997, 1999 SEC Coach of the Year 1994 Carol Eckman Award Winner 1983, 1999, 2002, 2003 Louisiana Coach of the Year 1983 Basketball News National Coach of the Year 1983 Converse Region IV Coach of the Year 1980 United States Olympic Team Head Coach

PLAYING CAREER:

Played guard for Nashville Business College (AAU) from 1958-62, earning All-America honors in 1960; Member of U.S. National Team, which competed against the Soviet Union from 1960-62.

COLLEGIATE COACHING EXPERIENCE:

Head coach Middle Tennessee State 1963-64; Head coach Stephen F. Austin 1965-80; Head coach LSU 1983-2004.

INTERNATIONAL COACHING EXPERIENCE:

Head Coach 1976 U.S. National Team; Assistant Coach 1976 U.S. Olympic Team (silver medal); Head Coach 1978 U.S. National Team; Head Coach 1980 U.S. National Team; Head Coach 1980 U.S Olympic Team.

COACHING ACHIEVEMENTS:

Silver medal in 1976 Olympics; Won Olympic Qualifying Tournament in 1980; Converse Region IV Coach of the Year in 1983; Basketball News National Coach of the Year in 1983; Louisiana Coach of the Year in 1983; Women’s NIT Champions in 1985, SEC Tournament Champions in 1991; Recipient of Carol Eckman Award in 1994; SEC Coach of the Year in 1997 and 1999; Louisiana Coach of the Year in 1997; WBCA District III Coach of the Year in 1999; Inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000; Two-time Louisiana Coach of the Year (2002 and 2003); WBCA Regional Coach of the Year in 2003; Third winningest head coach in NCAA history with 708 career victories; Inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005.

“Sue Gunter was a wonderful friend, an exceptional person and an incredibly talented basketball coach. Sue was definitely one of the pioneers of women’s collegiate basketball. She was one of my mentors. I learned so much from Sue about the X’s and O’s of the game of basketball. But more importantly, she taught me about the delicate balance of coaching and teaching the game and the value of great player-coach relationships. She made playing basketball fun due to her ability to connect with her players. Personally, I am going to miss her tremendously and I know the game is going to miss her.”

- Pat Summitt FORMER TENNESSEE HEAD COACH

“I loved her. There was always a lot of respect, not just as a coach, but in life. She was an unbelievable friend and sister. I will always cherish what we had. And she was a hell of a coach.”

- Ann Meyers - Jim Foster FORMER OHIO STATE HEAD COACH

“A lot of the things you see today in the game of women’s basketball are due to a large price earlier paid by people such as Sue Gunter. I had the utmost respect for her as a person and as a coach. She will really be missed in our game. Her achievements and legacy will far exceed her wins and losses, even though they were very impressive in her case.”

- Marsha Sharp FORMER TEXAS TECH HEAD COACH

“Personally I felt like I lost my best friend. Basketball lost one of its heroes. She is legendary. The things that she has done and the way she did them are just remarkable.”

- Andy Landers FORMER GEORGIA HEAD COACH

“When I got the call from my agent and he told me that LSU was “Just sadness … that was my first thought. At the same time it interested in me, the first thing I thought about was Sue Gunter. She made me relive the times I spent with Sue Gunter on the recruiting came to mind right off the bat. Having played in the SEC and having trail. Those were good times. The coaching profession has lost a great played against those old Sue Gunter teams back in the 90s, I was just one today. No question she is one of the pioneers. She’s a legend in the moved because she has meant so much to a lot of us, our career, and women’s game.” our choices to go into college coaching because of what she has done - Kim Mulkey for women’s basketball.” BAYLOR HEAD COACH

- Nikki Fargas

LSU HEAD COACH FROM HER INTRODUCTORY “I am very saddened today. Sue’s passing is a great loss for our sport PRESS CONFERENCE ON APRIL 4, 2011 and a personal loss of a close friend. My thoughts are with Sue’s family and those at LSU at this sad time.”

“A person you absolutely loved. There was not a person I respected - Jody Conradt more than Sue Gunter. Not only did we lose a great coach, but we lost FORMER TEXAS HEAD COACH an even better person.” “To me, the first thing that comes to mind is character. That’s what - Van Chancellor she instilled in us. It was not just always about basketball. It was about FORMER LSU HEAD COACH & HALL OF FAMER us being individual women in the world today. Basketball was definitely a luxury, so I was honored to have the opportunity to play for her, get to know her, and spend as much time as possible with her.”

- Temeka Johnson LSU POINT GUARD, 2002-05

“When you look at Sue’s record and all the accomplishments throughout her career, it’s easy to say that we have lost a great coach. “It was about two things when we stepped out on the floor - winning

But, in reality we have lost a better person.” and playing for our coach. We loved and respected her to the highest “Dream big, work hard.”

Prior to her arrival in Baton Rouge, Gunter had a very successful coaching stint at Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, Texas. While at SFA, Gunter built that program into a national powerhouse as she led the LadyJacks to a 266-87 mark in 12 years as head coach. In addition, she led Stephen F. Austin to four top 10 national rankings, which included No. 5 final rankings in 1979 and 1980. While at Stephen F. Austin, 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.

After 16 seasons at SFA, she relinquished the reigns and moved into the position of Director of Women’s Athletics where she served two years before returning to the coaching ranks at LSU.

Gunter began her coaching career at Middle Tennessee State where she led the Blue Raiders to undefeated seasons in both of her years there. level. Even a few years after her death and today, if something wonderful happens in my life, she is one of the first people who come to mind that I would love to talk to. A part of her continues to live in me.”

- Cornelia Gayden LSU GUARD, 1992-95

“For her to be inducted into the LSU (Athletic) Hall of Fame, it is a tremendous way to maintain her legacy and educate more people today on her accomplishments of the past. If Coach Gunter were here today, I think she would be proud of making it to the Hall of Fame but more so because she would look at it as a program honor.”

- Bob Starkey FORMER LSU ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH AND GUNTER’S ASSISTANT