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.
Showing posts with label Leon Barmore. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Leon Barmore. Show all posts
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
An inspiring story...and other news
I was very shocked and saddened to read about University of Tennessee Sophomore Amber Gray having a stroke. She went in for arthroscopic surgery on her left shoulder to repair her posterior capsule and labrum (basically she tore her rotator cuff and needed it fixed). After her July 2nd surgery, while still in the hospital, she had some complications. An unrelated brain aneurysm occurred which began to hemorrhage thus causing a stroke. Amber was then flown to a hospital near her home in Ohio. A 12.5 hour surgery snipped the aneurysm and saved her life.
On August 11, 2009, Ms. Gray walked out of the rehabilitation center. When asked by a reporter if she thinks she will play basketball again, she said "Of course I do". I have no doubt in my mind that this 19 year old woman will play basketball again for the Tennessee Lady Vols. I wish her well and her story is very inspiring as she continues to grow stronger and stronger each day. To read the story, click here.
This isn't the first bit of illness effecting teams this summer. University of North Carolina forward, Jessica Breland, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in late May. She is still undergoing chemotherapy treatments and it is still unclear if she will be able to play this season.
Best of luck to both women as they continue to recover.
Shout out to Teresa Edwards!
August 12, 2009, Teresa Edwards was inducted into the US Olympic Hall of Fame. Wow, it took this long to recognize her feats? Are you serious? She is the most decorated Olympic basketball player in the WORLD, not the U.S.A. but the WORLD. She has four gold medals and one bronze medal (1984, 1988, 1996, 2000-Gold, 1992-Bronze). She is the only 5-time Olympic hoops player in the U.S.A., and there are only two others that have played in 5 Olympic Basketball competitions in the world (and the only female I might add). And get this; she is also one of only three U.S. Olympians to win gold in four different Olympic Games, former teammate Lisa Leslie and sprinter Carl Lewis. Only five other non-U.S. athletes have accomplished that feat. Oh, and on top of that she is a super nice woman that loves the game. Currently she is passing her knowledge onto WNBA players as she is an Assistant with the Minnesota Lynx.
Some more info:
--Youngest (1984, 20 years old) and oldest (2000, 36 years old) U.S. women’s basketball player to win an Olympic gold medal
--Member of the historic 1996 U.S. Olympic Team and 1995-96 USA Basketball Women’s National Team that compiled a combined 60-0 record and was named the 1996 U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Basketball Team of the Year
--USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year a record four times (1987, 1990, 1996, 2000)
--Took Olympic Oath on behalf of all Olympic competitors at 1996 Opening Ceremony
Congratulations to Teresa Edwards. LONG, LONG overdue. (And in my humble opinion, that entire 1996 Women's Basketball team belongs in the Hall of Fame. Look at what they did to the face of women's basketball!)
(thanks to teamusa.org for those amazing numbers)
WNBA News
Atlanta Dream and Chicago Sky traded some players. The Dream sent 2008 first round draft pick Tamera Young to the Sky for fellow 2007 first round pick Armintie Price. Who wins? The Dream, man! Price was the 2007 Rookie of the Year and has been on the bench for the Sky. She'll start playing right away. Oh man, the Dream are really coming together.
Indiana Fever lost another starter, Ebony Hoffman. She has some tendinitis in her left ankle. Not sure how long she'll be out, probably day-to-day. Hopefully Tammy Sutton-Brown will recover quickly and get back into the lineup.
Other News
Leon Barmore WILL return to his Assistant Coaching position at Baylor. He really contemplated staying retired but has decided his heart is still in the game. I mean, seriously, would anyone turn down the opportunity to coach Brittney Griner? Article here.
And an interesting bit of trivia:
What two teams played the first intercollegiate women's basketball game?
Give up??? How about Stanford and Cal...who would've thought? April 4, 1896 at the Page Street Armory in San Francisco, CA. Final score: 2-1 Stanford. Nice article on the game.
On August 11, 2009, Ms. Gray walked out of the rehabilitation center. When asked by a reporter if she thinks she will play basketball again, she said "Of course I do". I have no doubt in my mind that this 19 year old woman will play basketball again for the Tennessee Lady Vols. I wish her well and her story is very inspiring as she continues to grow stronger and stronger each day. To read the story, click here.
This isn't the first bit of illness effecting teams this summer. University of North Carolina forward, Jessica Breland, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in late May. She is still undergoing chemotherapy treatments and it is still unclear if she will be able to play this season.
Best of luck to both women as they continue to recover.
Shout out to Teresa Edwards!
August 12, 2009, Teresa Edwards was inducted into the US Olympic Hall of Fame. Wow, it took this long to recognize her feats? Are you serious? She is the most decorated Olympic basketball player in the WORLD, not the U.S.A. but the WORLD. She has four gold medals and one bronze medal (1984, 1988, 1996, 2000-Gold, 1992-Bronze). She is the only 5-time Olympic hoops player in the U.S.A., and there are only two others that have played in 5 Olympic Basketball competitions in the world (and the only female I might add). And get this; she is also one of only three U.S. Olympians to win gold in four different Olympic Games, former teammate Lisa Leslie and sprinter Carl Lewis. Only five other non-U.S. athletes have accomplished that feat. Oh, and on top of that she is a super nice woman that loves the game. Currently she is passing her knowledge onto WNBA players as she is an Assistant with the Minnesota Lynx.
Some more info:
--Youngest (1984, 20 years old) and oldest (2000, 36 years old) U.S. women’s basketball player to win an Olympic gold medal
--Member of the historic 1996 U.S. Olympic Team and 1995-96 USA Basketball Women’s National Team that compiled a combined 60-0 record and was named the 1996 U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Basketball Team of the Year
--USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year a record four times (1987, 1990, 1996, 2000)
--Took Olympic Oath on behalf of all Olympic competitors at 1996 Opening Ceremony
Congratulations to Teresa Edwards. LONG, LONG overdue. (And in my humble opinion, that entire 1996 Women's Basketball team belongs in the Hall of Fame. Look at what they did to the face of women's basketball!)
(thanks to teamusa.org for those amazing numbers)
WNBA News
Atlanta Dream and Chicago Sky traded some players. The Dream sent 2008 first round draft pick Tamera Young to the Sky for fellow 2007 first round pick Armintie Price. Who wins? The Dream, man! Price was the 2007 Rookie of the Year and has been on the bench for the Sky. She'll start playing right away. Oh man, the Dream are really coming together.
Indiana Fever lost another starter, Ebony Hoffman. She has some tendinitis in her left ankle. Not sure how long she'll be out, probably day-to-day. Hopefully Tammy Sutton-Brown will recover quickly and get back into the lineup.
Other News
Leon Barmore WILL return to his Assistant Coaching position at Baylor. He really contemplated staying retired but has decided his heart is still in the game. I mean, seriously, would anyone turn down the opportunity to coach Brittney Griner? Article here.
And an interesting bit of trivia:
What two teams played the first intercollegiate women's basketball game?
Give up??? How about Stanford and Cal...who would've thought? April 4, 1896 at the Page Street Armory in San Francisco, CA. Final score: 2-1 Stanford. Nice article on the game.
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