RUSTON - For the second time in less than three years, legendary Louisiana Tech head coach Leon Barmore shocked the women's college basketball world by announcing his retirement Thursday.
Barmore announced his first retirement in March of 2000 prior to the first round of the NCAA Tournament before being lured back by university administrators following a regional final loss to Penn State. He leaves after 20 years as the Lady Techster head coach and a total of 25 years with the program he built.
"I wish I could coach the Lady Techster basketball team and work for President Dan Reneau and athletic director Jim Oakes forever, but I can't," Barmore said in his opening statement during the 2 p.m. press conference at the Hall of Fame Room in the Thomas Assembly Center. "I am retiring from being the head women's basketball coach at Louisiana Tech University."
During Barmore's tenure as head coach of the Lady Techsters, the Ruston, La., native did nothing but win, posting an overall career record 576-87. His all-time winning percentage of 86.9 percent ranks No.1 among men's or women's collegiate coaches.
"Leon Barmore is one of the pioneering legends of women's basketball," said Tech President Dr. Dan Reneau. "He built Louisiana Tech into a perennial national title contender and resisted the temptation to coach anywhere but at his alma mater. His loyalty is clearly unmatched in the coaching profession. He will be remembered as one of the all time great coaches in the history of the game."
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. 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.
"This is an end of an era at Louisiana Tech," Oakes said. "Coach Barmore's record of success will stand the test of time, and he will always be one of the top coaches to ever coach the game. We know the Lady Techster program will continue to succeed, but Coach Barmore will definitely be missed."
Barmore's retirement comes on the heels of a 25-5 season that saw the Lady Techsters win the Western Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles and advance to the program's 21st straight NCAA Tournament, one of only two programs to have participated in all 21.
Although Barmore's decision was tough on his returning players, they said they understood and only wished him the best.
"I'm going to miss him, but I feel like if he thinks that is the best thing for him, I trust his opinion," said junior guard Amber Obaze. "I feel he has already put the right people in the right place for us to be successful next year."
Barmore also said there would be a number of things he would miss as well, but mostly his players.
"I will miss coaching Cheryl Ford her senior year," Barmore said. "I will miss coaching Catrina Frierson, Erica Smith and Amber Obaze. All four will be in the WNBA someday. I will miss coaching a very talented group of newcomers. I will miss coaching for our fans."
Barmore, who coached Tech to 13 regular season titles in 15 years as a member of either the American South, Sun Belt or Western Athletic Conferences, has coached 12 Kodak All-Americans, 14 players who have been selected in the WNBA Draft, and 37 first team all-conference selections. The avid golfer has also seen a number of his former players and coaches move on to successfully coach on both the professional and collegiate levels.
"It's going to be an adjustment playing for someone new," Obaze said. "He's the only head coach I've ever had in college. His determination and will to win are incredible; no matter what kind of players he has, he is always going to make it happen."