Women's Basketball Coaching Legend Sue Gunter Dies at 66
8/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Aug. 4, 2005
Former Stephen F. Austin head coach and women's basketball coaching legend Sue Gunter died Thursday morning in her home in Baton Rouge, La.
"The SFA Athletics family was saddened today to learn of Sue's passing," said SFA athletics director Robert Hill. "She meant so much to this campus and the city of Nacogdoches. She was truly one of the greats in women's basketball and will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family."
A pioneer of the game, Gunter was selected to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame after a 40-year coaching career that saw stops at Middle Tennessee State, Stephen F. Austin and LSU. During her career Gunter ascended to the top of the coaching ranks and retired as one of the game's best. She finished first all-time in seasons coached (40), third in games coached (1,016), third in wins (708) and fourth all-time in 20-win seasons (22).
While in Nacogdoches, Gunter built Stephen F. Austin into one of the most dominant programs in the country. She posted a school-best 266 wins and led SFA to five AIAW national tournaments. The Ladyjacks also posted five top-10 finishes under Gunter's tutelage.
Gunter served as an assistant coach on the 1976 US Olympic team that won silver medal. For years later, she was named head coach of the 1980 US Olympic team.
Gunter concluded her career in Baton Rouge, La., where she built the LSU Lady Tigers' program into a force in the always-tough Southeastern Conference. Gunter concluded her career with a 442-221 (.667) record in 22 seasons with LSU.
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