LSU to Induct Five into the LSU Athletic Hall of Fame

On April 24, 2010, Louisiana State University will be inducting five new people into the LSU Athletic Hall of Fame. The chosen five will include two student athletes and three will come from the coaches/administrator field.

The inductees are Jenny Lidback, James Britt, Jeff Boss, Sue Gunter and Paul Dietzel. Jenny Lidback was a student athlete on the LSU Women's Golf team and James Britt played defensive back on the football team. Paul Dietzel served as both a head football coach and athletic director. Jeff Boss, equipment manager and Sue Gunter, head ladies basketball coach are both posthumous inductees.

Jenny Lidback played on the most successful women's golf team in LSU's history in 1986. Lidback was named the SEC Player of the Year, the National Collegiate Player of the Year and was named an All-American. Lidback also holds the record for winning the most individual tournament titles in one season at LSU. After graduation, Lidback went on to play in the LPGA and now currently plays on the LPGA Senior Tour.

James Britt played football at LSU from 1978 to 1982 under both Jerry Stovall and Charles McClendon. Britt played the cornerback position and has his most successful year as a Tiger his senior year. Britt was named First Team All-American by the National Editorial Alliance and First Team All-Southeastern Conference, as well as Academic All-American in his senior year. The Tigers ended the season with an 8-4 record, good enough to play in the Orange Bowl.

Britt was drafted during the second round by the Atlanta Falcons during the 1983 draft and played with the team until 1987.

Paul Dietzel was the Tiger's head football coach from 1955 to 1961. He is credited for the first national championship title in 1958. Dietzel was also named the National Coach of the Year that same year. Under Dietzel's coaching the Tigers won two SEC titles and finished in the top five during 1958, 1959 and 1961.

Dietzel coached at Army and South Carolina before coming back to LSU as the Athletic Director in 1978. In 1988, Dietzel was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

Sue Gunter was the head coach for the ladies basketball team from 1982 to 2004. Gunter holds the record on campus for having the most wins in LSU history with 442 official Tiger wins and ranks third in the NCAA with 708 wins. Gunter was named the SEC Coach of the Year in 1997 and 1999. In 1983 she was named the National Coach of the Year.

Gunter led the Lady Tigers to SEC Tournament titles in 1991 and 2003, NIT win in 1983 and led the team to three appearances in the NCAA's Elite Eight. Gunter is a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. Gunter died in 2005 and will be known on campus as one of the best coaches in LSU's history.

Jeff Boss was the equipment manager for the LSU Athletic Department for 24 years. He was well known on campus and well loved. Boss is credited for the design of the "Boss Shark" football shoe produced by Nike. Boss received the Glenn Sharp Award in 1990, an award that goes to the national equipment manager of the year.

Jeff Boss took pleasure in interacting with the student athletes and mentored many. Boss also trained and mentored 14 student managers, who went on to successful careers as equipment managers. Boss died in 2003, prompting the football team to dedicate the national championship and season to Jeff Boss.

Source:

LSU Sports