(Story taken from the Austin College
website)
SHERMAN, Texas - After 11 seasons on the sidelines at
Austin College, head women’s basketball coach Deb Hunter is
stepping down from that position due to health reasons.
Hunter’s team recently completed a season in which it went
18-8 and she was named both the Southern Collegiate Athletic
Conference and Russell Athletic/WBCA Region 5 Coach of the Year.
"This is a tremendous loss for our entire athletics
program,” said Vice President for Student Affairs and
Athletics Tim Millerick. “However, we all realize that this
action is necessary for Deb to improve her health. She has given
the College and our women’s basketball program her very best
effort and we are all fortunate to have had this special time with
her. Though she is leaving her job, Deb will always be a key
member of our athletics family, in particular for the history of
our women’s programs. I know there will be many who join me
in wishing her all the best in the weeks and months to come."
Since coming to Austin College, Hunter led her team to a
cumulative record of 138 wins and 134 losses and in a 20 year
coaching career owns an overall record of 268-228. This
season’s 18 wins are the most by the Austin College
women’s basketball team since joining the SCAC in 2006. In
addition to her coaching accolades this season, Hunter was also a
two-time American Southwest Conference Coach of the Year in 2004
and 2006.
Prior to coming to Austin College, Hunter coached for two seasons
at Colorado College and before that spent 10 successful years at
Bethel College. While at Bethel, Hunter led the team to three
NCAA Division III National Tournament appearances, including trips
to the Sweet Sixteen in 1994 and the Elite Eight in
1996. Hunter was named the Converse Coach of the Year for NCAA
District 8 in both of those seasons.
In addition to her role as head coach at Austin College, Hunter
has served as the Senior Women’s Administrator. The SWA
is the highest ranking female in each NCAA athletics department,
with the designation intended to encourage and promote the
involvement of female administrators in the decision-making process
in intercollegiate athletics. As the SWA at Austin College,
Hunter was instrumental in assisting the College transition to both
the NCAA Division III level as well as the SCAC.
Hunter also has served on various NCAA national committees during
her coaching career and has been a keynote speaker at the Division
III Final Four. A 1985 graduate of the University of
Minnesota, Hunter was a standout player for the Gophers and earned
her master’s degree from UM in 1996.
A two-time honorable mention All-America point guard at Minnesota,
Hunter still holds 11 statistical records including career assists
and steals. Hunter is a member of the Minnesota Athletics Hall
of Fame, and last January the Gophers honored her by retiring her
jersey. She was twice chosen as the team’s most valuable
player and was an All-Big Ten performer.
Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA
Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.
About Austin College
Austin College is a leading national independent liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas. Founded in 1849, making it the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original charter and name, the college is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Recognized nationally for academic excellence in the areas of international education, pre-professional training, and leadership studies, Austin College is one of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives.
