HEAD COACH SHARON FANNING haron Fanning enters her 12th sea- lete from the state son at the helm of the Mississippi of Mississippi to be THE SHARON FANNING FILE State women's basketball program, taken as the top S PERSONAL sporting a career record of 499-373 pick in any profes- Birthdate: Dec. 15, 1953 (.572). With her first win this season, she sional draft. Hometown: Chattanooga, Tenn. will become only the 29th coach in The Lady High School: Chattanooga High School Division I women's basketball history to Bulldogs faced a College: UT-Chattanooga (1975) Graduate School: Tennessee (1976) reach the 500-win plateau. Fanning cur- tough SEC and non- Degrees: Bachelor’s degree in health & rently ranks 22nd on the NCAA's win- conference sched- physical education; Master’s degree in ningest active coahces list (by victory) ule and finished 6- health & physical education and is tied for 29th on the winningest 22 in 2005-06. The team managed to COACHING HISTORY coaches all-time (by victory) list. 1995 - present: Head Coach, MSU In just over a decade at State, Fanning feature a scattering 1987 - 95: Head Coach, Kentucky has led the Lady Bulldog program to of positives along 1976 - 87: Head Coach, national prominence. She has coached the way, including a UT-Chattanooga MSU to six winning seasons and seven road upset of archri- 1978 - 87: Coordinator of Women’s Athletics, UT-Chattanooga postseason appearances during her val Mississippi. 1976 - 78: Basketball/Volleyball Head Coach, UT-Chattanooga tenure. However, the year 1975 - 76: Basketball Graduate Assistant, Tennessee When Fanning first came to did produce anoth- Mississippi State University in 1995, she er first in Lady Overall record at Miss. State: 176-147 Overall record as a head coach: 499-373 had a vision of building a quality Lady Bulldog history. On Bulldog basketball program. A little time Dec. 2, 2005 at COACHING MILESTONES combined with hard work and dedication Florida State, MSU 1st career win: vs. Chattanooga State, 96-66 (UTC) paid off, as the last seven years have started four fresh- 50th career win: at Erskine, 60-59 (UTC) been some of the best in the history of men for the first 100th career win: Feb. 16, 1982 vs. Western Carolina, 85-66 (UTC) 200th career win: Feb. 5, 1988 vs. UAB, 76-69 (UK) MSU women’s basketball. time ever -- Robin 300th career win: Jan. 16, 1994 vs. Mississippi State, 81-79 (UK) During her tenure at MSU, Fanning Porter, Lauren 400th career win: March 3, 2000 vs. Auburn, 66-56 (MSU-SEC Tournament) has tutored two Kodak all-Americans in Roberts, Heather Tan White (2002-2005) and LaToya Hollis & Marneshia enjoyed consecutive weeks in the Top Thomas (1999-2003). As a senior, White Richard. 25, cracking the Top 10 in the Associated led the nation in scoring, averaging 23.5 Fanning guided her 2004-05 squad to Press Poll and then finishing the season points per game, was named to the a 14-3 start before January. During that 13th in the AP Poll and 16th in the Associated Press’s All-America Second span, the Lady Bulldogs tallied a school- Coaches’ Poll. Team, Frances Pomeroy Naismith recipi- record 12-game winning streak (Nov. 27, In 2001-02, Fanning led MSU to its ent, all-SEC First Team selection and 2004-Jan. 13, 2005), which included wins fifth consecutive postseason appearance became the SEC’s All-Time Career Steals over 20th-ranked Louisiana Tech and UC- -- third in the NCAA Tournament -- after Leader in addition to finishing atop five Santa Barbara. State went 6-8 in SEC posting a 18-11 regular season record. MSU career categories. She became the play and earned a WNIT bid. MSU fell to The Lady Bulldogs defeated Boston second Lady Bulldog to be drafted into Arkansas State in the first round. College to advance to the second round the WNBA when she went as the No. 2 With a 2003-04 mark of 14-15, it of the NCAA Tournament before falling pick in the 2005 Draft to the Indiana marked the first time in seven seasons to Texas Tech on its home court. Fever. the Lady Bulldogs did not advance to In 2000-01, following a 15-13 regular In 2003, Thomas became just the sixth postseason play. Tallying an even 7-7 season, the Lady Bulldogs were extend- player in NCAA history to be named a record in league play, MState finished ed an invitation to appear in the Kodak All-American four times. eighth in the SEC. MSU defeated Women's National Invitation Becoming the first player to lead the SEC Arkansas in the first round of the SEC Tournament. State defeated Georgia in scoring all four years of her career, Tournament, before falling to Tennessee Tech at home and Illinois on the road Thomas was a four-time all-SEC First in the quarterfinals. before falling to James Madison in the Team and four-time Associated Press all- Fanning’s 2002-03 squad set many semifinals. By hosting Georgia Tech at SEC First Team pick. During her career, firsts for the Lady Bulldog program. In home, the Lady Bulldogs encompassed Thomas led MSU to four NCAA 2002-03, the Lady Bulldogs finished the yet another first in school history. It was Tournament appearances and to an season 24-8, tying the best single season the first time a Fanning squad hosted a appearance in the 2000 SEC Tournament record for a Lady Bulldog team. They postseason tournament game. State fin- title game. Becoming the sixth player also yielded the best SEC finish in school ished the season with a 17-14 record to under Fanning’s tutelage to play in the history, notching a 10-4 record to finish notch a winning mark for the third- professional ranks, she was the No. 1 third. For the success, MSU experienced straight campaign. pick in the 2003 WNBA Draft, going to its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance The 1999-2000 Lady Bulldog cagers the Cleveland Rockers. The pick made that season, defeating Manhattan before enjoyed one of their finest seasons to Thomas the first Lady Bulldog to be falling to New Mexico at The Pit in date, earning the program’s first national drafted into the WNBA and the first ath- Albuquerque. The Lady Bulldogs 28 HEAD COACH SHARON FANNING ranking in its 26-year history and a sec- Academically, the Lady Bulldogs have Korea, in 1987. In 1988 Fanning assisted ond-straight trip to the NCAA excelled off the court, as well. A total of on the USA Junior National team that Tournament. After leading her team to a 57 Lady Bulldogs have been named to competed in the World Championship No. 12 final ranking in the Associated the SEC Academic Honor Roll, including Qualifying Tournament in Sao Paulo, Press Poll and a 15th-place spot accord- nine during the 2005-06 season. Brazil. ing to the USA Today/ESPN Coaches’ Fanning came to MSU no stranger to A magna cum laude graduate of UTC Poll, Fanning received SEC Coach of the SEC basketball after serving eight sea- in 1975, Fanning lettered each year in Year honors and was named Mississippi sons as the head coach at Kentucky basketball and volleyball for the Lady State’s Outstanding Professional Non- (1988-95). Prior to her eight-year stay in Mocs while serving as captain for both Faculty Woman by the President’s Lexington, she began her coaching sports in 1975. Commission on the Status of Women. career in 1976 at her alma mater, the Upon completion of her undergradu- She led the 1999-2000 team to a pro- University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. A ate degree at UTC, Fanning earned her gram-best 24-8 overall record and an 8-6 member of UTC’s Hall of Fame, Fanning master’s degree from the University of conference mark, which marked the first served until 1978 as assistant athletics Tennessee in 1976 and began her coach- time a Lady Bulldog team had achieved director and head volleyball coach before ing career as a graduate assistant with 20-wins. During the year, State picked up being promoted to the role of legendary coach Pat Summitt. major wins over ranked opponents, Coordinator of Women’s Athletics until Fanning is as active off the court; act- including No. 2 Louisiana Tech. The Lady her departure for the ‘Bluegrass State’ in ing as a noted speaker who is very Bulldogs also appeared in the 1988. involved in community affairs, summer Southeastern Conference championship Her coaching experience hasn’t been basketball camps and youth clinics. game for the first time in history. limited to just the collegiate level, howev- Fanning has served three terms on the In 30 years of coaching, Fanning has er, as she has gained a great deal of Women’s Basketball Coaches Association coached 20 all-conference player selec- experience coaching on the international Board of Directors and two terms as chair tions and 11 all-America picks. In addi- level during her career. She served as of the Kodak/WBCA All-America commit- tion to Thomas and White, Fanning head coach of the North team at the tee, as well as a committee member for coached Sharon Thompson, the first Lady 1986 U.S. Olympic Festival before being the Margaret Wade Player of the Year Bulldog to be drafted in the women’s selected to the staff of the United States’ award. professional American Basketball League. Select team that played in Seoul, South FANNING THROUGH THE YEARS YEAR SCHOOL OVERALL CONFERENCE POSTSEASON 1976-77 Chattanooga 20-13 .606 --- --- --- ——— 1977-78 Chattanooga 19-7 .731 --- --- --- ——— 1978-79 Chattanooga 16-11 .593 3-0 ** 1.000 ——— 1979-80 Chattanooga 15-13 .536 3-1 ** .750 ——— 1980-81 Chattanooga 19-9 .679 2-1 ** .667 ——— 1981-82 Chattanooga 14-17 .452 4-2 1st .667 ——— 1982-83 Chattanooga 18-11 .621 8-2 1st .800 ——— 1983-84 Chattanooga 26-5 .839 9-1 1st .900 NWIT-Finals 1984-85 Chattanooga 16-13 .552