Linda Harper
Biographical details
Born(1942-10-02)October 2, 1942
DiedFebruary 15, 2014(2014-02-15) (aged 71)
Alma materNorthwestern State University of Louisiana
Northeast Louisiana University
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1978–1990Northeast Louisiana
Accomplishments and honors
Championships

Linda Harper (October 2, 1942 – February 15, 2014) was a former college and professional basketball coach.[1]

Early life

Harper studied at Northwestern State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1965. She studied later at Northeast Louisiana University and graduated with a Master's degree in Education in 1972.[2]

College career

In 1978, she was hired to coach the Northeast Louisiana women's basketball team. She coached the Indians (now referred to as the Warhawks) until 1980. She won 212 games with 121 losses while going 91–14 in conference play, bolstered by players such as Lisa Ingram and Eun Jung Ok.[3] She was named Southland Conference Coach of the Year in 1983 and 1985). They won 30 games in 1985 (with two separate 15-game winning streaks), best in the nation, while reaching a ranking of #2 in the AP Poll.[4] In the 1985 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament, the team advanced to the Final Four before losing to Old Dominion. It is currently the only time the team has reached the Final Four in program history and also the last time the program has won an NCAA Tournament game.

The following year, the Indians were found by the NCAA to have committed six infractions. They were put on probation and declared ineligible for postseason play for the 1986 tournament due to illegal recruiting of Chana Perry (who had scored 31 points in the Elite Eight victory over Louisiana Tech), who was declared ineligible for the remainderof the 1985–86 season. Harper was forbidden to recruit outside the campus for one year. The program was the first women's program to be given sanctions by the NCAA in their history.[5][6][7]

She retired in 1990 and was named to the program's Sports Hall of Fame in 1999. She was the all-time winningest coach in ULM history until Mona Martin passed her in 2009.

In the 1990s, she coached the AAU Monroe Magic.[8]

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Northeast Louisiana Indians (NCAA University Division independent) (1978–1982)
1978–79 Linda Harper 16–12
1979–80 Linda Harper 7–23
1980–81 Linda Harper 9–18
1981–82 Linda Harper 12–12
AIAW: 81–125
Northeast Louisiana Indians (Southland Conference) (1982–1990)
1982–83 Linda Harper 26–65–0NCAA First Round
1983–84 Linda Harper 23–412–0NCAA Regional
1984–85 Linda Harper 30–212–0NCAA Final Four
1985–86 Linda Harper 26–312–0Northern Lights Invite Champions
1986–87 Linda Harper 14–109–3NCAA First Round
1987–88 Linda Harper 19–1011–3
1988–89 Linda Harper 19–911–3
1989–90 Linda Harper 14–128–5
Total:215–139 (.607)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

  1. ↑ "Coach Linda Harper". Kilpatrick Funeral Homes. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Former Women's Basketball Coach Linda Harper Passes Away". University of Louisiana Monroe Athletics. February 17, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  3. ↑ "A conversation with ULM L Club Hall of Fame inductee 'Jab' Johnson". www.ulm.edu. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  4. ↑ Soignier, Tabby. "Legendary ULM coach Harper passes away at 71". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Woman's Team Is Penalized". The New York Times. Associated Press. January 11, 1986. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Northeast Louisiana Feels Like Scapegoat". Los Angeles Times. January 22, 1986. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Northeast Louisiana's victory in the NCAA East Regional, the..." UPI. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  8. ↑ "JUST LIKE DAD, SHE DELIVERS". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
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