Pokey Chapman Announces She is Stepping Down as Head Coach of the LSU Women's Basketball Team

LSU Coach Pokey Chapman announced her resignation from the LSU Women's Basketball team today to the LSU Athletic Department. The news became public this afternoon during the afternoon rush hour traffic. I'm sure the announcement caused more than one accident on the roads! Coach Chapman cited her reason for resigning as wanting to pursue other career opportunities. Her original contract was good through June 30, 2009.

Coach Chapman's resignation will be effective April 30, 2007 after the NCAA Championship Tournament in which the Tigers will be competing after placing second in the SEC Championship game. The Tigers entered the Championship game with a fourth seed but fell short in the final game of the tournament against Vanderbilt with a final score of 51-45. This was the third year in a row the Tigers have lost in the final game of the SEC Championship with a combined margin of only nine points.

Coach Chapman took over as head coach of the LSU Women's Basketball team in 2004 after Hall of Fame Coach Sue Gunter announced her retirement. She began serving as Head Coach after Coach Sue Gunter fell ill in 2003 on a temporary appointment. Chapman previously served as an Associate Coach to the team for 5 years and a staff member for 8 years prior to being named Associate Coach. She was the most qualified to take over the team, being a personal mentor of Gunter for years as both former athlete, Associate Coach, and staff member.

Chapman was no stranger to the team even then, as she is also an LSU Alumni and played basketball on the team she now coaches. She was the starting point guard for her 4 years on the team in the late 80's and early 90's. Chapman held the LSU record for the most assists until the 2003-2004 season when Temeka Johnson took the honors away from her coach. Chapman set 20 records while playing at LSU, of which 5 records are still standing. She is one of only 5 LSU players to be named to the Kodak All-American Team.

Coach Chapman became well known for her recruiting abilities with 8 straight teams ranking in the Top 20 in the United States. This included the 2004 team that reached the Final 4 in her first year as Head Coach of the team. Her efforts landed her the BCA Coach of the Year honors and more.

Coach Chapman's most popular recruit is no doubt Seimone Agustus who ended her career at LSU with the No. 1 draft pick for WNBA. Agustus was also a two time National Player of the Year. Other well know athletes Coach Chapman has mentored include Cornelia Gayden, NCAA record holder for 3 point goals in a single game and Marie Ferdinand, also honored as a Kodak All-American, and a first round draft pick for WNBA. She is currently playing with the San Antonio Silver Stars.

Other honors for Coach Chapman include National Coach of the Year in 2004-2005 by the United States Basketball Writers Association and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. Other national honors for 2004-2005 basketball season include the Naismith Award and the Victor Award. In 2005-2006, she earned her honors for SEC Coach of the Year and the Black Coaches Association Coach of the Year awards in 2004 and 2005, respectively. Coach Chapman was inducted into the LSU Hall of Fame in 1999.

LSU Athletic Director, Skip Bertman, issued the following statement via lsusports.net concerning Coach Chapman's resignation:

"We respect the decision that Pokey Chapman has made regarding her future career opportunities. On behalf of LSU, I thank her for her athletic accomplishments as a player and as a coach, and for the community service work she has performed for Baton Rouge and Louisiana. We wish her success in her future endeavors."

In closing I would like to thank Coach Chapman for all her years of service, excitement, leadership and commitment to LSU and the Women's Basketball Team. We wish you success in the future and best of luck in the NCAA Championships!