Leon Barmore, who can forget him? Who can forget what his teams did for the face of women's basketball? Coach Barmore was an Assistant to Sonja Hogg when the Lady Techsters won the first NCAA women's basketball title in 1982.
Barmore took over the full coaching reigns in 1985 after serving for three years as the co-head coach. He led the Lady Techsters to 20 straight winning seasons, 13 of those season were 30 wins or more (6 straight at one point), 20 straight NCAA tournament appearances, nine Final Fours and oh yes, five National title game berths. They won it all in 1988 (with Spoon leading the charge). Coach Barmore led Louisiana Tech to 13 regular season conference Championships in 15 years, coached 12 All-Americans and 14 of his players went onto play in the WNBA. He coached now Louisiana Tech's Head Coach, Teresa 'Spoon' Weatherspoon (Olympian, All-American, star player of the WNBA, Women's Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2010). 2003 Naismith Hall of Fame and Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee, he amassed an incredible record of 576-87 (.869 winning percentage). I would think any coach would like to have that kind of resume.
One of those players that he coached was Kim Mulkey. Kim Mulkey played for Barmore from 1980-1984 and became an Assistant at the school after her playing days. She learned the trade under Barmore. Coach Mulkey went onto accept the Head Coaching position at Baylor University in 2000. Baylor won it all in 2005. In 2008, Coach Barmore joined her staff as an Assistant coach. At the end of the 2008-2009 season he contemplated retiring but decided to come back for another whirl at being an Assistant. There is a nice article on why he is returning to Baylor this season. Check it out.
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