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Western Carolina begain playing basketball in 1928, under head coach Pete Plemmons[1]. On April 29, 2005, Larry Hunter, one of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) leaders in coaching victories, was named Western Carolina University’s 17th head men’s basketball coach.
Western Carolina University
[edit] All-Time WCU Coaching Records
| Coach |
Seasons |
Won/Loss |
Years |
| Pete Plemmons |
3 |
35-22 |
1928-1931 |
| C.C. Poindexter |
4 |
50-30 |
1931-1935 |
| Ralph James |
4 |
47-39 |
1935-1939 |
| James Whatley |
3 |
33-18 |
1939-1942 |
| Marion McDonald |
2 |
28-22 |
1945-1947 |
| Tuck McConnell |
3 |
37-43 |
1947-1950 |
| Jim Gudger |
19 |
311-222 |
1950-1969 |
| Jim Hartbarger |
5.5 |
86-73 |
1969-1975 |
| Fred Conley |
2.5 |
31-32 |
1974-1977 |
| Steve Cottrell |
10 |
145-133 |
1977-1987 |
| Herb Krusen |
1 |
8-19 |
1987-1988 |
| Dave Possinger |
1 |
12-16 |
1988-1989 |
| Greg Blatt |
4 |
38-73 |
1989-1993 |
| Benny Dees |
2 |
26-30 |
1993-1995 |
| Phil Hopkins |
5 |
65-76 |
1995-2000 |
| Steve Shurina |
5 |
48-97 |
2000-2005 |
[edit] Basketball All-Americans
1951 NAIA Third Team All-American
1952 NAIA First Team All-American
1953 NAIA Third Team All-American
1963 NAIA First Team All-American
1963 NAIA Second Team All-American
1965 NAIA Third Team All-American
1966 NAIA First Team All-American
1967 NAIA First Team All-American
1967 Second Team Converse All-American (All-Divisions)
1967 Associated Press College Division All-America
1968 NAIA First Team All-American
1968 Associated Press College Division All-America
[edit] The 1962-63 Catamount Men’s Basketball Team
On the 40th anniversary of the 1962-63 men’s basketball season (2003), that team was inducted into the Western Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame, along with the 1969 women’s basketball team and the 1983 football team as each played for a national championship. Under leadership of Hall of Fame coach Jim Gudger, Western posted a 28-7 record, won the Carolinas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament and NAIA District title. Western then ran off wins on consecutive days versus Eastern Montana, Miles, Lewis & Clark and Fort Hayes State before falling in NAIA championship game to Texas Pan American. The ’63 team featured All-Americans Mel Gibson and Tommy Lavelle, who rank second and 19th on the WCU all-time scoring list, as well as Danny Tharpe, who ranks ninth among the school’s all-time scorers, and Charlie McConnell, who scored 1,018 points. Also, that team featured career leaders for rebounds in Darrell Murray (third), Gaston Seal (sixth) and John Brittnall (ninth).
[edit] References
