Laurie Byrd is a basketball coach and former basketball player from Flint, Michigan. She is sister to the professional boxer Chris Byrd.

College

A graduate of Hamady High School in Flint, Michigan, Byrd joined the Eastern Michigan Hurons women's basketball team, which had just begun play the year before. During her collegiate career from 1978 through 1982, she led the team in both scoring and assists.[1] Her 1,899 points was the EMU basketball scoring record (men and women) until surpassed in December, 2011, by Tavelyn James.[2] In January, 2011, she became the fourth basketball player and the first women's basketball player to have her jersey retired by Eastern Michigan, joining George Gervin, Grant Long, and Kennedy McIntosh.[3]

Professional

From 1984 through 1999, Byrd played professional basketball in Spain,[4] Italy, Switzerland, and Sweden.[5] She also played for the Detroit Dazzlers of the Liberty Basketball Association (leading scoring in the league's first game),[6] the Atlanta Glory (1996–1997[7]) and the San Jose Lasers (1997–1998[7]) of the American Basketball League (ABL) as well as the Kentucky Marauders and the Chicago Spirits of the Women's Basketball Association.[8] In 1998, at age 38, Byrd was the oldest player in the ABL.[9] In 1999 and 2000 she was on the training camp roster for the Detroit Shock of the Women's National Basketball Association.[7][10]

Coaching career

From 1999 through 2002 she was an assistant coach for the University of Detroit Titans.[8] From 2003 to 2005 she was an assistant coach for the Detroit Shock, who won a WNBA Championship in 2003.[11] In 2007, she was the director of player personnel for the Houston Comets and in 2008 she became an assistant coach for the Comets. In 2009 and 2010 she was an assistant coach with the New York Liberty, and in 2011 she was an assistant coach for the Washington Mystics[4]

References

  1. ↑ Messink, Bison Collins (2011-01-20), "Laurie Byrd becomes first Eastern Michigan women's basketball player to have her jersey retired", AnnArbor.com, retrieved 2012-01-28
  2. ↑ Rezler, Rich (2011-12-11), "Tavelyn James sets Eastern Michigan scoring record during 77–64 win against Michigan", AnnArbor.com, retrieved 2012-01-28
  3. ↑ "Eastern Michigan to retire Laurie Byrd's No. 4 basketball jersey", AnnArbor.com, 2011-01-20, retrieved 2012-01-28
  4. 1 2 "Laurie Byrd added to coaching staff", Washington Post, 2011-02-03, retrieved 2012-01-28
  5. ↑ Biggers, Adam (2011-01-31), "Flying high: Flint's Laurie Byrd will join elite company at Eastern Michigan University", The Flint Journal, retrieved 2012-01-28
  6. ↑ "Women cage pros debut", Ludington Daily News, p. 7, 1991-02-19, retrieved 2012-01-28, Laurie Byrd scored 25 points to lead six players in double figures as the Detroit Dazzlers beat the Liberty Basketball Association All-Stars 104-87 in the league's first-ever game.
  7. 1 2 3 "Guard Laurie Byrd added to Detroit Shock roster", Toledo Blade, 2000-05-09, retrieved 2012-01-28
  8. 1 2 Laurie Byrd, Women's National Basketball Association, archived from the original on 2012-01-17, retrieved 2012-01-28
  9. ↑ Berlet, Bruce (1998-02-23), "Blizzrd sent off course; Lasers take charge, win playoff series", Hartford Courant, p. C1, As little-used San Jose Lasers guard Laurie Byrd, the oldest player in the ABL at 38, dribbled out the final seconds, Carolyn Jones and Shanda Berry stood staring.
  10. ↑ "Shock Notebook: Bolton-Holifield glad to be back", The Detroit News, 1999-07-05, retrieved 2012-01-28
  11. ↑ Woodyard, Eric (2011-07-27), "The Washington Mystics add Laurie Byrd of Flint to their coaching staff", The Flint Journal, retrieved 2012-01-28
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