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.
Notably, Chatman resigned from her post at LSU on March 7, 2007 amid allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a former player. The resignation and ensuing controversy appeared to have little effect on her team's preparation for the NCAA Tournament; they earned the right to play in the 2007 Final Four.
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[edit] LSU Career
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 resigned as the head women's basketball coach at Louisiana State on March 7, 2007 after the university became aware of an alleged inappropriate sexual relationship between Chatman and a former player. Former LSU assistant coach Carla Berry, a college teammate of Chatman's, reported the alleged relationship to the university in February.[1] Assistant coach Bob Starkey was named interim coach and led the team during the 2007 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament.
Chatman later sued the University for $800,000 for the remaining two years on her contract plus damages, citing wrongful termination. Ultimately, she settled for $160,000.[2]
Following the season 2006-2007, the University hired Basketball Hall of Fame coach Van Chancellor as its new coach on April 11. Chancellor is generally thought of as one of the premier coaches in women's basketball, having coached numerous professional women's championship teams. Days after the announcement that Chancellor was to come aboard, Berry announced she was leaving coaching.[3]
In August 2007 she signed as assistant coach of the Moscow's Spartak, winner of the 2007 Euroleague's Final against the Ros Casares from Valencia (Spain).
[edit] Collegiate Head Coaching Record
| Season | Team | Record | NCAA Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-2004 | LSU | 15-5 (acting head coach) | Final Four |
| 2004-2005 | LSU | 33-3 | Final Four |
| 2005-2006 | LSU | 31-4 | Final Four |
| 2006-2007 | LSU | 26-7 | Resigned before NCAA Tournament |
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90-14 (105-19 including 2004) | ||
| Preceded by Sue Gunter |
LSU Lady Tigers Head Basketball Coach 2004-2007 |
Succeeded by Bob Starkey (Interim); Van Chancellor |
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[edit] References
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