KMR a Louisiana HS Legend Award Recipient
2/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 14, 2006
HAMMOND, La. - Defending women's national championship coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame member Sue Gunter, and Louisiana High School Hall of Fame coaches Herman Hill and John Juneau comprise the illustrious 2006 Class of Louisiana High School Legends.
The Hammond Sweet 16 Steering Committee selects the award recipients from a group of suggested nominees. Qualified nominees are judged on their contributions to the sport of girl's basketball by the time, energy, and resources given to the sport as well as dedication and commitment to the sport of girls' basketball in Louisiana.
The Legends Awards will be presented during halftime of the opening Girls' Sweet 16 state championship game Friday, March 3, at 7 p.m. at the University Center.
Mulkey-Robertson, the only person to win a national championship as a player, assistant coach and head coach, began building her legacy as a dominant high school player at Hammond High School. She guided HHS to four-straight state championships, posted a 136-5 record and finished her career with the national record for most points scored (4,075). She earned all-district, all-state and all-America honors each of her four years as well as earning class Valedictorian honors with a 4.0 grade point average.
Her playing career continued at Louisiana Tech where she led the Lady Techsters to a 130-6 record, two national titles and four Final Fours from 1980-84 as well as twice earning Academic All-America honors.
Mulkey-Robertson's coaching career began at Louisiana Tech where she served as an assistant and associate head coach for 15 years. During that time, Tech advanced to seven Final Fours and won the national championship in 1988.
As a head coach, Mulkey-Robertson has elevated Baylor University to unprecedented levels winning the school's first-ever basketball national championship (men or women's) in 2005. She is a member of Women's Basketball and Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and was recognized by the College Sports Information Director's of America as an Academic All-American Hall of Fame member in 2003.
Gunter, who passed away in early August 2005, will be honored posthumously for her significant contributions. Most known for her accomplishments while head coach of the LSU Lady Tigers where she compiled a 442-221 record through 22 seasons, Gunter began her coaching career at Middle Tennessee State University in 1963. After a one-year stint, she moved to Stephen F. Austin where she blossomed into one of the top young coaches in the country.
She guided the Ladyjacks for 12 seasons compiling an outstanding 266-87 mark. In addition, she led SFA to four top-10 national rankings including No. 5 final rankings in 1979 and 1980.
In 22 years as the head coach at LSU, Gunter established a venerable program, guiding her teams to 14 NCAA Tournaments. She led LSU to one Final Four and to the Elite Eight three times. Overall, Gunter won over 400 games as head coach of the Lady Tigers compiling a 442-221 record making her the winningest coach in school history. She is a member of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. She completed her career as the third winningest women's basketball coach in history.
Herman Hill and John Juneau represent two of the all-time greats in the Louisiana high school coaching ranks.
Hill, who guided East Beauregard and Pitkin to five state titles from 1975 to 1990, is third on the all-time winningest coaches list with an 825-124 record over 29 years.
In addition to his five state titles, Hill also coached eight state runner-ups and five high school all-Americans in his tenure.
He was named the National High School Coach of the Year in 1992 and was four times named the state coach of the year. Hill, whose win total is a LHSAA record for girl's five-on-five basketball, is a member of the LHSAA/LHSCA Hall of Fame.
Juneau coached Lacassine High School from 1968-85 compiling a 650-111 record and won six state championships including a perfect 47-0 season in 1975-76.
In 1982, Juneau was named National Coach of the Year and is also a member of the LHSAA/LHSCA Hall of Fame.
Under Juneau's guidance, Lacassine also claimed 11 district championships from 1971-73. Juneau was named district Coach of the Year in each of those seasons. He was named state class Coach of theYear six times.
