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How many Division I basketball programs can boast of a head coach that has a resume anywhere close to that of Louisiana Tech's Teresa Weatherspoon?
The answer is ... well, not too many. A quick glance at some of Weatherspoon's career accomplishments as a player include tell the story of one of the top players to ever play the game collegiately, internationally and professionally.
• 2-time Kodak All-American
• 1988 Wade Trophy Winner
• 1988 NCAA National Champion
• 2-time Olympian
• 4-time WNBA All-Star
• 2-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year
If that isn't enough, take into account that Weatherspoon will be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville next summer as part of the Class of 2010.
And now Weatherspoon is ready to add to that resume on the coaching side.
After being hired as the associate head coach in April of 2008, it didn't take long for her to move up in the coaching ranks.
The legendary collegiate and WNBA guard was named only the fifth head coach in the storied history of the Lady Techster basketball program during a press conference held in the Charles Wyly Athletic Center April 2, 2009.
Weatherspoon earned the promotion after she took over the program as interim head coach on Feb. 9, 2009 and guided Louisiana Tech to a 9-2 mark down the stretch, the 2009 Western Athletic Conference regular season title and a postseason appearance.
"As a former Lady Techster and a future Hall of Famer, Teresa has a tremendous passion for the game of basketball and for Louisiana Tech," said Tech Athletic Director Derek Dooley. "After watching her lead the Lady Techsters during the latter part of this season, it was clear that she is as passionate and as gifted a coach as she was a player."
She won her first eight games after being named interim head coach, an accomplishment that even two of her Hall of Fame predecessors Leon Barmore and Sonja Hogg couldn't match in their first years.
The win streak propelled Tech from fifth place to first place in only a three week span as the Lady Techsters claimed a share of the 2009 WAC regular season title.
The eight-game winning streak was the longest by a LA Tech team since the 2005-06 season, when the Lady Techsters won 15 straight games before falling in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
And although the winning streak was eventually snapped by a 91-88 overtime loss to Nevada in the semifinals of the 2009 WAC Tournament, Tech still earned a postseason berth in the WNIT where it dismantled Conference USA champion SMU before falling to Illinois State in the second round.
The combination of Weatherspoon's success on the sideline, legendary status as a player in the Columbia blue uniform in the 1980s, and reputation as one of the WNBA's all-time greatest players, made the decision an easy one for Tech administrators.
"I am absolutely delighted that Teresa Weatherspoon has accepted this position," said Louisiana Tech President Dr. Dan Reneau. "She is a true Techster, a loyal alumn and a superb coach."
Weatherspoon announced her decision to return to LA Tech as the associate head coach during an emotional speech at the annual Lady Techster Basketball Appreciation Banquet April 11, 2008 in news that energized the fan base.
One year later, the Pineland, Texas native takes over the reigns of the second winningest program in the history of the game.
"This is an unbelievable honor," Weatherspoon said. "Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would have the opportunity to play in such a historic place and then come back and be the head coach.
"I feel like I've come full circle; this is where my development as a player really started years ago and now I get the opportunity to share my experiences with these ladies. I'm extremely honored and grateful to the administration for having confidence in me to get the job done."
Weatherspoon was hired as the associate head coach at Louisiana Tech last April after spending eight seasons as a player in the WNBA -- seven with the New York Liberty and one with the Los Angeles Sparks.
During her time in the league, Weatherspoon started 220 straight games and led the Liberty to three WNBA championship appearances in 1997, 1999 and 2000. She was a four-time WNBA All-Star, a four-time all-WNBA second teamer and the two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year.
She still ranks No. 3 in career assists (1,338) and No. 8 in career steals (465) in the history of the WNBA.
Her professional playing experience started in 1988 when she went overseas to play. Weatherspoon spent six years in Italy -- where she was named a six-time all-star -- and two years in Russia.
And as impressive as her professional playing resume is, it doesn't hold a candle to the one she built as a player at Louisiana Tech.
During her Louisiana Tech playing career which spanned from 1984 through 1988, Weatherspoon was a two-time Kodak All-American (1987, 1988) and won the prestigious Wade Trophy as the top player in the country during her senior season.
In fact as a senior, Weatherspoon earned an incredible trifecta as she was named the state player of the year, the American South Conference Player of the Year and the national player of the year.
In that same year (1988), Weatherspoon won a national championship title -- LA Tech defeated Auburn 56-54 in the NCAA title game -- and an Olympic gold medal as part of the US National Team.
She said she owes it all to her days of playing for Barmore, the five-time Hall of Fame coach who retired as the winningest coach (percentage-wise) in the history of the game.
"Knowing I played here under the best - and I capitalize every letter on Coach Barmore's name - it's truly overwhelming to return," Weatherspoon said. "It's only right for me to give back to a place and a program that gave so much to me."
She led the Lady Techsters to a mark of 118-14 during her career and two national championship game appearances in 1987 and 1988, earning spots on the All-Final Four teams both years. She was instrumental in leading Tech to a remarkable second half comeback against Auburn to claim the 1988 National Championship Title.
Weatherspoon -- whose No. 11 jersey is retired at LA Tech -- was named to the NCAA Women's Basketball Team of the Decade for the 1980's. A member of the 1,000-point club (1,087) at LA Tech, she still ranks No. 1 in career assists (958) and career steals (411).
Weatherspoon also earned distinction in USA Basketball circles, leading the US to the gold medal in the 1988 Olympics and the bronze medal in the 1992 Olympics. She also earned gold medals in the 1986 World Championships, the 1986 Goodwill Games and the 1987 World University Games.
Although this will be Weatherspoon's first collegiate head coaching position, she served as the head coach of the America Basketball Association's Westchester Phantoms in 2008.
Weatherspoon earned her bachelor's degree from Louisiana Tech.
Collegiate Playing Experience/Achievements
• Lettered at Louisiana Tech (1984-88)
• Signed with the Lady Techsters out of West Sabine High School (Pineland, Texas)
• Started 131 of 132 games in her Lady Techster career
• Led LA Tech to a mark of 118-14 during her career
• Led LA Tech to four NCAA Tournaments and two Final Fours
• Led LA Tech to two national championship games (1987, 1988)
• Led LA Tech to the 1988 NCAA title with a 56-54 come-from-behind win over Auburn.
• 2-time Kodak All-American (1987, 1988)
• Wade Trophy winner (1988)
• All-Final Four Team (1987, 1988)
• All-Region Tournament Team (1987, 1988)
• Region Most Outstanding Player (1988)
• America South Conference Player of the Year (1988)
• Louisiana Sports Writers Association State POY (1988)
• Broderick Cup Winner (1988)
• Named to the NCAA Women's Basketball Team of the Decade (1980s)
• No. 11 jersey is retired
• Ranks No. 1 in Tech history in assists (958) and steals (411)
• Career highs of 22 points, 17 assists (vs. UL-Monroe, 1984-85) and 10 steals (vs. UCLA, 1985-86)
• Member of the 1,000-point Club (ranks 33rd with 1,087 points)
US National Team Playing Experience/Achievements
• Led Team USA to the gold medal at the 1988 Olympic Games
• Led Team USA to the bronze medal at the 1992 Olympic Games
• Led Team USA to the gold medal at the 1986 World Championships
• Led Team USA to the gold medal at the 1986 Goodwill Games
• Led Team USA to the gold medal at the 1987 World University Games
International Playing Experience/Achievements
• Played eight years overseas (1988-1996), including six years in Italy and two years in Russia.
• Played for Bustoarsizio for four years, Magenta for one year and Como for one year in Italy.
• Played for the CSKA (Central Sports Club of Army) for two years in Russia.
• Was a six-time all-star in Italian League.
• Led CSKA to the Russian title both years.
• Played in the European Cup for the last three years overseas.
WNBA Playing Experience/Achievements
• Signed by the WNBA and assigned to the New York Liberty, January 22, 1997.
• Played for the New York Liberty in the WNBA for seven years and the Los Angeles Sparks one season.
• Started 220 straight games during her first seven years in the WNBA.
• Became the first player in WNBA history to record 1,000 assists versus Detroit on June 5, 2002 and was the first player with 1,000 points and 1,000 assists.
• 4-time WNBA All-Star (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002)
• 4-time All-WNBA second team (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000)
• 2-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (1997, 1998)
• Led the New York Liberty to the WNBA Championships in 1997, 1999 and 2000.
• Ranks No. 3 all-time in assists (1,338) and No. 8 in steals (465) in WNBA history
• Participated in the 1998 WNBA Brazil Tour
• Was a member of the 1997 WNBA Touring Team, which played exhibition games in Germany and Italy
Professional Coaching Experience
• Coached the Westchester Phantoms of the America Basketball Association (2008)
Collegiate Coaching Experience
• Named associate head coach at Louisiana Tech in April, 2008
• Named interim head coach at Louisiana Tech on February 9, 2009
• Led LA Tech to a 9-2 mark over the final 11 games of the season
• Led LA Tech to the 2009 Western Athletic Conference regular season title.
• Led LA Tech to an appearance in the WNIT, including a first round win over SMU (77-54).
Personal
• Was named a recipient of "The Best of New York Award" by New York magazine for making New York City "special"
• Was on the New York Daily News float during the 1997 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
• Wears No. 11 in memory of her favorite uncle who passed away when she was 11 years old
• Has two brothers, Charles Jr. and Michael, who played football at Prairie View A&M, and three sisters, Diana, Carolyn, and Denise
• Father, Charles Sr., played minor league baseball for the Minnesota Twins
• Mother Rowena was an undefeated champion drum majorette in Roanoke, Va.,
• Worked two summers with Harlem Globetrotter Coach Hubert "Geese" Ausbie and his anti-drug crusade
• Loves to work with children and worked closely with the Women's Sports Foundation
