RUSTON - Former Louisiana Tech head coach Leon Barmore will now be inducted into two Hall of Fames this year after it was announced Monday that the 20-year veteran of the Lady Techster sideline will be among seven individuals who have been elected for Enshrinement into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in September.
Barmore joins five players and one contributor in representing the 45th group to enter the Hall of Fame located in Springfield, Mass., since the institution began the process in 1959.
The 58-year old Ruston native will also be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame May 9-10 in Knoxville, Tenn.
"This year has been unbelievable to me," Barmore said. "Being inducted into any hall of fame is the ultimate compliment in my profession, and to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in Springfield is the greatest. I really thank my family, the community of Ruston, Louisiana Tech University and the Lady Techster program because they put me here. I'm a person that will never forget that."
Joining Barmore in the Class of 2003 will be former Boston Celtic center Robert Parish, former Los Angeles Lakers forward James Worthy, legendary Italian superstar Dino Meneghin, African-American basketball pioneer Earl Lloyd, Los Angeles Lakers broadcasting icon Chick Hearn and Meadowlark Lemon, the "Clown Prince of Basketball."
Barmore compiled an incredible 576-87 record during his 20 seasons as the head coach of the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters, where he began his coaching career as an assistant in 1977. The former letter winner for the Tech men's program retired in August of 2002 with the best winning percentage in women's basketball history at 86.9.
The 1988 Naismith National Coach of the Year recipient led Tech to 20 straight NCAA Tournaments, nine Final Fours and five national championship game appearances while winning the 1988 national title.
During his 20 seasons at Tech, Barmore coached teams recorded 19 20-plus win seasons, 13 30-plus win seasons and finished ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 on 18 separate occasions.
"I grew up watching a lot of the people play who are already inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame play and idolizing them," Barmore said. "Now to know that I will always be in there with them is just a dream; it's something that as a kid growing up you simply dream about, but now it is true."
Barmore said the most special part of the honor is the fact he was able to spend his entire career and life around Ruston.
"I told Jim Nance a few minutes ago that to be able to grow up, play basketball and then making a living coaching basketball in the same area of the country is very pleasing to me," Barmore said. "There aren't too many people who can make that claim. Then to reach this pinnacle is even more amazing."