RUSTON, La., Aug. 22 (UPI) -- For the second time in less than three years, Louisiana Tech women's basketball coach Leon Barmore has announced his retirement.
Barmore announced prior to the start of the NCAA Tournament in 2000 that he planned to retire, fully expecting assistant Kim Mulkey-Robertson would succeed him.
But Mulkey-Robertson took the head coaching job at Baylor, where she has gone 48-15 over the past two seasons. So Barmore was persuaded by university officials to stay on.
"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 Thursday. "I am retiring from being the head women's basketball coach at Louisiana Tech University."
Barmore compiled a 576-87 record in 20 years for a winning percentage of .869, which ranks first among women's and men's coaches. Under Barmore, Louisiana Tech made 20 straight NCAA Tournaments, nine Final Fours and five national championship games.
The Lady Techsters won the national championship in 1988.
"Leon Barmore is one of the pioneering legends of women's basketball," Reneau said. "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, 58, led Louisiana Tech to a 25-5 record last season. The Lady Techsters are one of just two schools to have participated in all 21 NCAA Tournaments. Fourteen of his players have been selected in the WNBA draft.
