Gourt Home::Gourt :: Pokey Chatman
The information in this article is current as of June 2006.
Dana "Pokey" Chatman (born June 18, 1969 in Ama, Louisiana) is the head coach of the LSU women's basketball team. Since taking over for legendary coach Sue Gunter in 2004, Chatman led the Lady Tigers to three consecutive NCAA Final Fours in 2004 (as acting head coach for the ailing Gunter), 2005, and 2006.
Chatman served as a student assistant with the Lady Tigers for one season (1991-1992), before being named assistant coach prior to the 1992-1993 season. She had just completed her 13th season as a Lady Tiger coach (five as associate coach) when she served as acting head coach for Gunter, who’s failing health removed her from the sidelines. Chatman took over the team in the middle of the 2003-2004 season and led LSU to a 15-5 record and the first Final Four in school history. When Gunter announced she would retire on April 27, 2004, Chatman was named the fourth head coach in the history of LSU Lady Tigers Basketball.
The 2005-2006 season was no different, as the Lady Tigers finished with a 31-4 record, captured it’s second consecutive SEC regular season title (13-1), and reached their third straight Final Four, this time losing to Duke. Chatman’s 47-3 record is the second best record through 50 games in women’s basketball history. Only Hall of Fame coach Leon Barmore, the former Louisiana Tech head coach had a better record (48-2).
Chatman has already won numerous awards, including the Black Coaches Association’s Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2005; the 2005 USBWA National Coach of the Year, the 2005 Russell/WBCA National Coach of the Year; the 2005 Naismith National Coach of the Year; the 2005 Victor Award Female Coach of the Year; the 2005 SEC Coach of the Year; and the 2005 Louisiana Coach of the Year.
In 2005, Chatman served as the assistant coach for the USA Women’s World University Games Team, which won the gold medal. Chatman also won a medal as a player on the 1990 USA Select Team.
Chatman was inducted into the LSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1999.
External links
1969 births | American basketball coaches | American basketball players | Living people | LSU Lady Tigers basketball coaches | LSU Lady Tigers basketball players | People from Louisiana
"Pokey Chatman"