Hall of Fame coach Sue Gunter dies at 66

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana (Ticker) - Legendary women’s college basketball coach Sue Gunter, who recently was voted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, died Thursday following a long battle with respiratory problems and emphysema. She was 66.

Gunter, who in April was voted into the Hall of Fame along with men’s college coaches Jim Boeheim and Jim Calhoun, will be inducted posthumously in Springfield, Massachusetts in September. She already was a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, having been inducted in 2000.

Gunter stepped down as coach of Louisiana State last year and was replaced by assistant Pokey Chatman due to her illness.

“It’s obviously been a difficult day for me,” Chatman said. “Not only have I lost a great friend and mentor, but the game of basketball has lost one of its true pioneers. She not only made a huge difference in my life, but in the life of everyone associated with women’s basketball.

“I am who I am in no small part because of the role she has played in my life - both as a coach and as a person. I feel a great sense of responsibility to carry on her legacy at LSU. In one way I lost someone very special today, but in a more important way I know she will always be a part of me.”

Before her health-induced retirement, Gunter amassed 708 wins - third all-time in NCAA women’s basketball history - in 44 years at Middle Tennessee State, Stephen F. Austin and LSU. Only Texas’ Jody Conradt and Tennessee’s Pat Summitt have more wins than Gunter.

“Sue Gunter was a wonderful friend, an exceptional person and an incredibly talented basketball coach,” Summitt said. “Sue was definitely one of the pioneers of women’s collegiate basketball. She was one of my mentors. … 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.”

During her 22 seasons as coach of LSU, Gunter compiled a record of 442-221, making her the winningest coach in school history. She guided the Lady Tigers to 14 NCAA Tournament berths, including a Final Four appearance in 2004, when she went on medical leave on February 19.

The Lady Tigers advanced to the Final Four again in 2005 and Gunter watched the games on television from her hospital bed while suffering from pneumonia.

After leading Middle Tennessee State to two undefeated seasons, Gunter posted a 266-87 mark in 12 years at Stephen F. Austin, where she also served as women’s softball, tennis and track coach. She led the LadyJacks to the No. 5 ranking in both 1979 and 1980.

Gunter moved to director of women’s athletics at Stephen F. Austin for two years and served as coach for the 1980 United States Olympic team prior to arriving at LSU in 1982. She led the Lady Tigers to at least 20 wins in 14 seasons, including one 30-win campaign.

“LSU will miss Sue Gunter but will always remember her,” LSU athletic director Skip Bertman said. “She not only represented LSU for many years but she also represented our country as coach of the U.S. Olympic team and she always did so with great pride, grace and humility. She was one of a select few women whose perseverance and dedication to her sport many years ago helped create the popularity of women’s athletics that exists today.”

Gunter also played four years for Nashville Business College from 1958-62, earning AAU All-American honors. She played for the 1960-62 United States teams that played against the Soviet Union.