Stephen F. Austin State University

She was described as a pioneer, a coach, a legend, a friend and even a gangster.

Those were some of the remarks made by peers and former players of the late Sue Gunter as SFA honored the first Ladyjacks' basketball coach in ceremonies surrounding "Sue Gunter Day" Saturday at SFA.

Former players, coaching colleagues and referees were in attendance for the unveiling of the Sue Gunter Ladyjack Basketball Office Suite at halftime of the Ladyjacks' win over Sam Houston.Former players, coaching colleagues and referees were in attendance for the unveiling of the Sue Gunter Ladyjack Basketball Office Suite at halftime of the Ladyjacks' win over Sam Houston.

Gunter, the third winningest coach in NCAA Women's Basketball history, coached the Ladyjacks from 1965-80. In her 15-year tenure with the Ladyjacks, Gunter led SFA to a 266-88 mark and four Top 10 rankings.

After leaving SFA, Gunter went on to coach 22 years at LSU. She was 442-221 in her time there and finished with an overall record of 708-308, which ranks only behind Tennessee coach Pat Summitt (963) and former Texas coach Jody Conradt (900).

"That was one of the greatest moves LSU made," SFA president Baker Pattillo said. "We tried to counter to keep Sue, but nothing was holding her back. She went to LSU and did the same thing she did here, put the Lady Tigers on the map."

One of the trademarks people remember Gunter by was not only her ability to squat on the sideline the entire game, but how high she jumped up when a call didn't go her way.

"There is not another coach who could squat on the sideline like Sue," said Summitt, who played for and served as an assistant under Gunter, in a video tribute to Gunter. "There's also not another coach who could get airborne the way she did from that position when she disagreed with an official."

Even though she is remembered for her accomplishments on the court, she influenced just as many people with the type of person she was off the court, people said.

"Her record speaks for it self, but what people outside the game didn't know was how great a person and friend she was," Conradt said. "I would bet if I asked coaches who Sue came in contact with, who their coaching friends were, that Sue would be at the top of the list. She had a special way with people, and it didn't end in competition."

"Off the court, she was full of life and full of fun," Summitt said. "She could turn a bad day into a great day. She could kick your butt in practice and then play cards with you later. She was just a great person."

"Several of her players are now coaches and are teaching and instilling the same values she taught and instilled into them," Pattillo said.

Among the players Gunter had an impact on and went on to coach were two-time former Kodak All-American Rosie Walker and national player of the year finalist Barbarba Brown-McCoy.

"I feel so honored to speak and honor Coach Gunter," Walker said. "She was a great lady. Coach Conradt and Barmore (Leon Barmore, the former Louisiana Tech women's basketball coach) were always out there to defeat her and us, but today we all stand together to honor her.

"She made each and every player feel special."

Walker described Gunter as a gangster coach.

"She would stand at the top of the ramp smiling, but when she came down the ramp, she wasn't smiling anymore," Walker said. "And I was like, that's a gangster coach. No matter who we played, she made us believe we could beat anyone once we stepped on the court."

Unique, nice and easy-going were other descriptions Walker made of Gunter.

"She was the nicest person I ever met," Walker said. "You didn't want to meet her on the court or in practice. I told some of my teams the same thing she practiced, that the relationship on the court has nothing to do with how it is away from basketball."

Brown-McCoy described Gunter with three Ps — purpose, pride and peace.

"She taught us that it wasn't just about us, that we had a purpose," Brown-McCoy said. "She also instilled in us to have pride in ourselves. And she left a certain amount of peace with us. There is a song by Jamie Foxx, 'I wish you were here,' and I said in a prayer the other day that I wish she was here to see how she helped me."

Conradt and Barmore shared several stories of their experiences against Gunter at Saturday's luncheon.

"Now, the big game in women's basketball is Connecticut and Tennessee," Barmore said. "Back then, it was SFA and Louisiana Tech.

"We (Louisiana Tech) played two times for the title, but no one was better than SFA, and no coach was better than Sue Gunter."

Barmore also said Gunter would be on his Mount Rushmore.

"If there was a Mount Rushmore for coaches, it would be Margaret Wade, Pat Summit, Jody Conradt and Sue Gunter."

Lee Ann Riley, the current Ladyjack basketball coach, appreciated what Gunter did in building the Ladyjacks.

"Coach Gunter was always so good to me. She treated me as a colleague and a friend," Riley said. "Many programs wish they had what we have, and we have what we do because of Coach Gunter. Once a Ladyjack, always a Ladyjack.

"She was a pioneer in women's basketball. I remember being in high school and driving down from Tyler to watch the Ladyjacks and Sue Gunter."

Gunter, who was born May 22, 1939, in Walnut Grove, Miss., died Aug. 4, 2005, due to respiratory problems and emphysema at the age of 66.

A month later, Gunter was inducted into the Naismath Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., after being elected April 4. In 2000, Gunter was elected to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Knoxville, Tenn.

"When she died, the sorrow and sadness hit me," SFA athletic director Robert Hill said. "I knew it wouldn't have been if it wasn't for all the good she did. Thank you Sue, for a great, great ride."

The Ladyjacks won their 800th game Saturday, but they know it wouldn't have been possible without Gunter's ability to jump start the program in the 1960s.

"I am very fortunate to be able be a part of the 800th win in this program's history," Riley said. "And to celebrate it with former players made it even better. Thanks to Gunter's vision and dedication, we are in the position we are in today."

Gunter, the third winningest coach in NCAA Women's Basketball history, coached the Ladyjacks from 1965-80. In her 15-year tenure with the Ladyjacks, Gunter led SFA to a 266-88 mark and four Top 10 rankings.

After leaving SFA, Gunter went on to coach 22 years at LSU. She was 442-221 in her time there and finished with an overall record of 708-308, which ranks only behind Tennessee coach Pat Summitt (963) and former Texas coach Jody Conradt (900).

"That was one of the greatest moves LSU made," SFA president Baker Pattillo said. "We tried to counter to keep Sue, but nothing was holding her back. She went to LSU and did the same thing she did here, put the Lady Tigers on the map."

One of the trademarks people remember Gunter by was not only her ability to squat on the sideline the entire game, but how high she jumped up when a call didn't go her way.

"There is not another coach who could squat on the sideline like Sue," said Summitt, who played for and served as an assistant under Gunter, in a video tribute to Gunter. "There's also not another coach who could get airborne the way she did from that position when she disagreed with an official."

Even though she is remembered for her accomplishments on the court, she influenced just as many people with the type of person she was off the court, people said.

"Her record speaks for it self, but what people outside the game didn't know was how great a person and friend she was," Conradt said. "I would bet if I asked coaches who Sue came in contact with, who their coaching friends were, that Sue would be at the top of the list. She had a special way with people, and it didn't end in competition."

"Off the court, she was full of life and full of fun," Summitt said. "She could turn a bad day into a great day. She could kick your butt in practice and then play cards with you later. She was just a great person."

"Several of her players are now coaches and are teaching and instilling the same values she taught and instilled into them," Pattillo said.

Among the players Gunter had an impact on and went on to coach were two-time former Kodak All-American Rosie Walker and national player of the year finalist Barbarba Brown-McCoy.

"I feel so honored to speak and honor Coach Gunter," Walker said. "She was a great lady. Coach Conradt and Barmore (Leon Barmore, the former Louisiana Tech women's basketball coach) were always out there to defeat her and us, but today we all stand together to honor her.

"She made each and every player feel special."

Walker described Gunter as a gangster coach.

"She would stand at the top of the ramp smiling, but when she came down the ramp, she wasn't smiling anymore," Walker said. "And I was like, that's a gangster coach. No matter who we played, she made us believe we could beat anyone once we stepped on the court."

Unique, nice and easy-going were other descriptions Walker made of Gunter.

"She was the nicest person I ever met," Walker said. "You didn't want to meet her on the court or in practice. I told some of my teams the same thing she practiced, that the relationship on the court has nothing to do with how it is away from basketball."

Brown-McCoy described Gunter with three Ps — purpose, pride and peace.

"She taught us that it wasn't just about us, that we had a purpose," Brown-McCoy said. "She also instilled in us to have pride in ourselves. And she left a certain amount of peace with us. There is a song by Jamie Foxx, 'I wish you were here,' and I said in a prayer the other day that I wish she was here to see how she helped me."

Conradt and Barmore shared several stories of their experiences against Gunter at Saturday's luncheon.

"Now, the big game in women's basketball is Connecticut and Tennessee," Barmore said. "Back then, it was SFA and Louisiana Tech.

"We (Louisiana Tech) played two times for the title, but no one was better than SFA, and no coach was better than Sue Gunter."

Barmore also said Gunter would be on his Mount Rushmore.

"If there was a Mount Rushmore for coaches, it would be Margaret Wade, Pat Summit, Jody Conradt and Sue Gunter."

Lee Ann Riley, the current Ladyjack basketball coach, appreciated what Gunter did in building the Ladyjacks.

"Coach Gunter was always so good to me. She treated me as a colleague and a friend," Riley said. "Many programs wish they had what we have, and we have what we do because of Coach Gunter. Once a Ladyjack, always a Ladyjack.

"She was a pioneer in women's basketball. I remember being in high school and driving down from Tyler to watch the Ladyjacks and Sue Gunter."

Gunter, who was born May 22, 1939, in Walnut Grove, Miss., died Aug. 4, 2005, due to respiratory problems and emphysema at the age of 66.

A month later, Gunter was inducted into the Naismath Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., after being elected April 4. In 2000, Gunter was elected to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Knoxville, Tenn.

"When she died, the sorrow and sadness hit me," SFA athletic director Robert Hill said. "I knew it wouldn't have been if it wasn't for all the good she did. Thank you Sue, for a great, great ride."

The Ladyjacks won their 800th game Saturday, but they know it wouldn't have been possible without Gunter's ability to jump start the program in the 1960s.

"I am very fortunate to be able be a part of the 800th win in this program's history," Riley said. "And to celebrate it with former players made it even better. Thanks to Gunter's vision and dedication, we are in the position we are in today."