Leon Barmore
Encyclopedia
Leon Barmore is a college women's basketball
coach. He coached at Louisiana Tech University
from 1982 to 2002, serving the first three years as co-head coach with Sonja Hogg
, who had begun the program in 1974 at the invitation of university president F. Jay Taylor
. Upon his retirement, Barmore's .869 winning percentage was the best in major-college basketball history (both men's and women's).
. He went on to play basketball at Louisiana Tech and earned Gulf States All-Conference honors.
Barmore led Tech to 20 straight winning seasons, including an amazing 13 30-plus win campaigns while also coaching the Lady Techsters to 20 straight NCAA Tournaments, nine Final Fours, five national championship games and the 1988 national title. He also led Tech to 13 regular season titles in 15 years as a member of either the American South
, Sun Belt
or Western Athletic
conferences, including 10 in a row from 1992 to 2002. When Barmore coached Tech to a 31-5 mark in 2000-01, he became the first coach in Division I college basketball history to record six straight 30-plus win seasons.
Barmore coached 12 Kodak All-Americans, 14 players who have been selected in the WNBA Draft, and 37 first team all-conference selections.
Barmore was awarded the US Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) Coach of the Year award in 1996.
(Mulkey as a player and Barmore as a coach), and Barmore is also a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame
.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
coach. He coached at Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University, often referred to as Louisiana Tech, LA Tech, or Tech, is a coeducational public research university located in Ruston, Louisiana. Louisiana Tech is designated as a Tier 1 school in the national universities category by the 2012 U.S. News & World Report college rankings...
from 1982 to 2002, serving the first three years as co-head coach with Sonja Hogg
Sonja Hogg
Sonja Hogg is the former head woman's basketball coach at Louisiana Tech University and at Baylor University.Hogg was a physical education teacher at Ruston High School when she interviewed at Louisiana Tech for a position in its P.E. department. School president Dr. F. Jay Taylor remarked that...
, who had begun the program in 1974 at the invitation of university president F. Jay Taylor
F. Jay Taylor
Foster Jay Taylor, known as F. Jay Taylor , was a historian who served from 1962 to 1987 as the president of Louisiana Tech University in Ruston in Lincoln Parish in north Louisiana...
. Upon his retirement, Barmore's .869 winning percentage was the best in major-college basketball history (both men's and women's).
Early years
Barmore was born June 3, 1944 to Jasper Barmore and Flora McCurry. He earned All-State honors as a basketball player at Ruston High SchoolRuston High School
Ruston High School is a 4 year public high school located in the Lincoln Parish School District of Ruston, Louisiana, United States. The school has an enrollment of approximately 1200 students with 85 faculty members; the mascot is the bearcat. The school colors are red and white. Black students...
. He went on to play basketball at Louisiana Tech and earned Gulf States All-Conference honors.
Louisiana Tech
After a stint as head men's coach at Ruston High, Barmore joined the Louisiana Tech staff in 1977, nominally as Hogg's top assistant. In truth, Barmore handled nearly all game strategy. He was named associate head coach in 1980 and co-head coach in 1982. He took over the reins full-time in 1985, when Hogg left Ruston.Barmore led Tech to 20 straight winning seasons, including an amazing 13 30-plus win campaigns while also coaching the Lady Techsters to 20 straight NCAA Tournaments, nine Final Fours, five national championship games and the 1988 national title. He also led Tech to 13 regular season titles in 15 years as a member of either the American South
American South Conference
The American South Conference was in the NCAA. The conference existed from 1987 to 1991.-Membership:*Arkansas State *UCF *Lamar *Louisiana–Lafayette *Louisiana Tech *New Orleans...
, Sun Belt
Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
or Western Athletic
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
conferences, including 10 in a row from 1992 to 2002. When Barmore coached Tech to a 31-5 mark in 2000-01, he became the first coach in Division I college basketball history to record six straight 30-plus win seasons.
Barmore coached 12 Kodak All-Americans, 14 players who have been selected in the WNBA Draft, and 37 first team all-conference selections.
Barmore was awarded the US Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) Coach of the Year award in 1996.
Baylor University
Leon recently decided to continue his coaching career at Baylor University, where he is now an assistant under former Louisiana Tech superstar Kim Mulkey, who played under Barmore from 1980 to 1984. In the first round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament, Barmore served as Baylor's interim head coach and led the Bears to an overtime victory over UT-San Antonio (Mulkey missed the game with an illness). Both Mulkey and Barmore are members of the Women's Basketball Hall of FameWomen's Basketball Hall of Fame
The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame honors men and women who have contributed to the sport of women's basketball. The Hall of Fame opened in 1999 in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA...
(Mulkey as a player and Barmore as a coach), and Barmore is also a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame
Basketball Hall of Fame
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, honors exceptional basketball players, coaches, referees, executives, and other major contributors to the game of basketball worldwide...
.
Head coaching record
Coaching tree
Eight former assistant coaches under head coach Leon Barmore have become head women's basketball coaches.- Gary BlairGary BlairGary Claude Blair is the head coach of the Texas A&M Aggies women's basketball team. In his 26 years as a collegiate head coach, Blair has only suffered one losing season, and has reached postseason play 22 times, including 17 NCAA Tournament appearances, including 2 Final Four appearances in 1998...
- Stephen F. Austin, Arkansas, Texas A&MTexas A&M Aggies women's basketballThe Texas A&M Aggies women's basketball team represents Texas A&M University in NCAA Division I women's basketball. The team has been coached by Gary Blair since 2003. The Aggies play home games at Reed Arena, a 12,500-capacity arena in College Station, Texas on the campus of Texas A&M.The Aggies... - Kurt BudkeKurt BudkeKurt Budke was an American college basketball coach. His final coaching job was as the head coach for the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls women's basketball team from 2005 until his 2011 death in a plane accident.-Career:...
- Louisiana TechLouisiana Tech Lady Techsters basketballThe Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters basketball team represents Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana. The team currently competes in the NCAA Division I as a member of the Western Athletic Conference. The current head coach of the Lady Techsters is Teresa Weatherspoon...
, Oklahoma StateOklahoma State Cowgirls basketballThe Oklahoma State Cowgirls women's basketball team represents Oklahoma State University and competes in the Big 12 Conference of NCAA Division I. The team's interim head coach is Jim Littell, who took over after former head coach Kurt Budke died in a plane crash on November 17, 2011... - Kristy CurryKristy Curry-External links:*...
- PurduePurdue Boilermakers Women's BasketballThe Purdue Boilermakers women's basketball team is a college basketball program that competes in NCAA Division I and the Big Ten Conference. Purdue is rich in tradition and history, holding the record for Big Ten Championships, along with being the only program in the conference to boast winning...
, Texas TechTexas Tech Lady Raiders basketballThe Texas Tech Lady Raiders basketball team represents Texas Tech University and competes in the Big 12 Conference of NCAA Division I. The team is coached by Kristy Curry who is in her fourth season at the university.-History:... - Nell FortnerNell FortnerNell Fortner is the current women's college basketball coach at Auburn. She is most well known for leading the 2000 Olympics team to a gold medal. She has received numerous awards including the 1997 National Coach of the Year, the 2000 USA Basketball Coach of the Year and the 2008 SEC Coach of the...
- PurduePurdue Boilermakers Women's BasketballThe Purdue Boilermakers women's basketball team is a college basketball program that competes in NCAA Division I and the Big Ten Conference. Purdue is rich in tradition and history, holding the record for Big Ten Championships, along with being the only program in the conference to boast winning...
, Team USAUnited States women's national basketball teamThe United States women's national basketball team are the defending Olympic champions in women's basketball. The team is composed of some of the top American players in the WNBA and the women's college game....
, Indiana FeverIndiana FeverThe Indiana Fever is a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
, Auburn - Stacy Johnson-Klein - Fresno StateFresno State BulldogsThe Fresno State Bulldogs represent California State University, Fresno in 19 NCAA Division I sports. The teams have been members of the Western Athletic Conference since 1992. Before that, it had been a member of the Big West Conference since 1969...
- Chris LongChris Long (basketball coach)-References:...
- Louisiana TechLouisiana Tech Lady Techsters basketballThe Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters basketball team represents Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana. The team currently competes in the NCAA Division I as a member of the Western Athletic Conference. The current head coach of the Lady Techsters is Teresa Weatherspoon... - Kim Mulkey - BaylorBaylor Lady Bears basketballThe Baylor Lady Bears basketball team represents Baylor University in Waco, Texas, in NCAA Division I women's basketball competition. They currently compete in the Big 12 Conference...
- Jennifer WhiteJennifer White (basketball)-References:...
- St. Edward'sSt. Edward's UniversitySt. Edward's University is a private Roman Catholic institution of higher learning located south of Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas. The university offers a liberal arts education and its campus is located on a hill overlooking the city of Austin. The campus's most notable landmark is Main...