For the Oldtimers

[BigUtFan]

Does anyone out there know the whereabouts of Linda Puckett who coached at Southeastern La. University during the mid seventies? She was an excellent teacher of the game and guided SLU to the finals of the AIAW, twice, I believe. Please share any info.........

[mred]

I found this:
http://www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/bl4-2.htm

(about halfway down)

April 2, 1997

Former Lady Lions coach dies
Dr. Linda Puckett, who was head coach of Lady Lions basketball AIAW national championship team of 1976-77, passed away in Augusta, Ga., in March after a bout with cancer.
A native of Clinton, Miss., Puckett, SLU's first head coach for women's basketball, guided the Lady Lions basketball program through its inception in 1974- 75 through its move into NCAA Division I in 1980-81.
Puckett, who was 52, compiled the best winning percentage in SLU history with a 175-45 record over seven seasons, for a remarkable .795 winning mark. Puckett's teams had three straight 30-win seasons including a 30-2 mark in the national championship campaign.
In addition to the national championship, Puckett led SLU to two fifth-place and one six-place national standing, and four straight AIAW Louisiana and Region IV tournament championships.
Before moving to SLU, Puckett was head coach at Mt. Hermon (La.) High School where her team won the 1974 state title, earning her Louisiana Coach of the Year honors. She was instrumental in organizing and coaching the first Louisiana High School Coaches Association girl's All-Star basketball game.
Since leaving SLU, Puckett taught and coached on the high school level in several southern states and has been involved with helping troubled children. Most recently she taught at Tubman Middle School in Augusta, Ga.
The family requests that memorials be made to the SLU Athletics Memorial Scholarship Fund in the name of Dr. Linda Puckett, at SLU Box 309, Hammond, LA 70402, (504) 549-2253.

[mred]

Also...
http://www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/bl2-18.html

February 18, 2002

http://www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/lindapuckett.jpg

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Four to be inducted into Athletics Hall of Fame
The Athletics Department will induct four new members into its Athletics Hall of Fame Saturday Feb. 23 at halftime of the Lions' basketball game against Texas-San Antonio.
This will be the first induction class since 1999 and features three prolific athletes and arguably the most successful coach in Southeastern's history.
Former Lion baseball star Kirk Bullinger, tennis' Renata Smekalova-Blahova, Track and Field's Greg Lawrence and Southeastern's late women's basketball head coach Dr. Linda Puckett will join the 90 other members as Hall of Famers.
"We are extremely excited to have such an outstanding class being inducted this year," said Southeastern Director of Athletics Frank Pergolizzi. "It's a diverse group with exceptional credentials and each are very deserving of the honor."
For more on the stellar athletes, visit www.lionsports.net. (http://www.lionsports.net.)

[This message has been edited by mred (edited 06-17-2002).]

[BigUtFan]

Originally posted by mred:
I found this:
http://www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/bl4-2.htm

(about halfway down)

April 2, 1997

Former Lady Lions coach dies
Dr. Linda Puckett, who was head coach of Lady Lions basketball AIAW national championship team of 1976-77, passed away in Augusta, Ga., in March after a bout with cancer.
A native of Clinton, Miss., Puckett, SLU's first head coach for women's basketball, guided the Lady Lions basketball program through its inception in 1974- 75 through its move into NCAA Division I in 1980-81.
Puckett, who was 52, compiled the best winning percentage in SLU history with a 175-45 record over seven seasons, for a remarkable .795 winning mark. Puckett's teams had three straight 30-win seasons including a 30-2 mark in the national championship campaign.
In addition to the national championship, Puckett led SLU to two fifth-place and one six-place national standing, and four straight AIAW Louisiana and Region IV tournament championships.
Before moving to SLU, Puckett was head coach at Mt. Hermon (La.) High School where her team won the 1974 state title, earning her Louisiana Coach of the Year honors. She was instrumental in organizing and coaching the first Louisiana High School Coaches Association girl's All-Star basketball game.
Since leaving SLU, Puckett taught and coached on the high school level in several southern states and has been involved with helping troubled children. Most recently she taught at Tubman Middle School in Augusta, Ga.
The family requests that memorials be made to the SLU Athletics Memorial Scholarship Fund in the name of Dr. Linda Puckett, at SLU Box 309, Hammond, LA 70402, (504) 549-2253.

Thanks mred for the information, however sad to hear. I was fortunate to see some of her championship caliber teams and some of the great names in the early stages of women's basketball.

[KSUron]

Great job mred! Man the posters on this board are GOOD.