Pokey Chatman

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Dana "Pokey" Chatman (born June 18, 1969 in Ama, Louisiana) is the former head coach of the LSU Lady Tigers basketball team. After taking over from 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. She resigned immediately prior to the 2007 NCAA tournament, amidst allegations of improper sexual conduct with a former team member.

The 1991 Kodak All-American point guard played for Gunter from 1987 to 1991, starting all but one game and setting the all-time steals (346) and assists (570) records at LSU. Her assist record was broken in the 2003-2004 season by Temeka Johnson. Chatman played in the NCAA Tournament four times and posted a record of 82-38 as a player. She was a three-time All-SEC selection and led the Lady Tigers to their first ever SEC Tournament title in 1991, where she was the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).

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, whose 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.

In Chatman’s first season as head coach, she led the Lady Tigers to a 33-3 record, an undefeated SEC regular season title (14-0), and the program’s second consecutive Final Four, falling to eventual national champion Baylor in the semifinals. The 2005-2006 season was no different, as the Lady Tigers finished with a 31-4 record, captured its 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 Hall of Fame in 1998.

[edit] Resignation as LSU Head Coach

Chatman announced her resignation as the LSU Women's Basketball Head Coach on March 7, 2007, stating she intended to stay on as head coach through April 30, 2007. Chatman then announced the following day that she would resign immediately. It is now known that former LSU player and current LSU assistant coach, Carla Berry, is the previously unnamed source that reported Chatman and alleged that she engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior with one or more of her former players. Assistant coach Bob Starkey was named interim coach and led the team during the 2007 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament.

[edit] Head Coaching Record

Season Team Record NCAA Tournament
2004-2005 LSU 33-3 Final Four
2005-2006 LSU 31-4 Final Four
2006-2007 LSU 26-7 Resigned before NCAA Tournament
TOTALS
 90-14
Preceded by
Sue Gunter		 LSU Lady Tigers Head Basketball Coach
2004-2007		 Succeeded by
Bob Starkey (interim)

[edit] External links

Current Head Women's Basketball Coaches of the Southeastern Conference

Melanie Balcomb (Vanderbilt) | Bob Starkey (interim) (LSU) | Mickie DeMoss (Kentucky) | Sharon Fanning (Mississippi State) | Nell Fortner (Auburn) | Susie Gardner (Arkansas) | Andy Landers (Georgia) | Carolyn Peck (Florida) | Carol Ross (Ole Miss) | Stephany Smith (Alabama) | Pat Summitt (Tennessee) | Susan Walvius (South Carolina) |
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