Louisiana Tech honored one of the most influential figures in the game of women's basketball as the University unveiled a statue in honor of Hall of Fame coach Leon Barmore on the front steps of the Thomas Assembly Center on Friday.

Hundreds of Lady Techster fans, including dozens of former players, coaches and support staff members, returned to Ruston to pay homage to one of the winningest coaches in the history of college basketball.

The statue -- created by world renowned artist Brian Hanlon of Brian Hanlon Studios -- depicts Barmore coaching from the sideline.

Barmore coached at his alma mater for 25 years (1977-2002) and left with a record of 576 wins and only 87 losses while leading the program to 13 Final Fours, 8 National Title games and three national titles. He is enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Tech Athletics Hall of Fame.
   
Left Side of Statue

• 576-87 record as head coach (.869%)
• 24 National Postseason Tournaments
• 13 Final Fours, 8 National Championship Games, 3 National Titles
• 16 Kodak All-Americans, 14 WNBA Players, 4 Olympians, 3 Wade Trophy Winners
• 1988 Naismith National Coach of the Year
• 1990, 1996 USBWA National Coach of the Year
• 1990 USBWA co-Coach of the Decade
• 25 Conference Regular Season/Tournament Championships
• 9-time Conference Coach of the Year

Anyone researching the history of women's basketball will find "Leon Barmore" etched in hardwood as one of the game's most remarkable success stories ever.

By infusing his tenacious competitiveness, will to win, and Hoops IQ into team after team, Coach Barmore helped build Louisiana Tech into a national powerhouse and kept the Lady Techsters among the nation's elite for a quarter of a century.

Not only did the program compete annually for the national title against the Who's Who of women's basketball … the Lady Techsters WERE the Who's Who of women's basketball.  

Following a four-year playing career with the Bulldogs and highly successful coaching stints at both Bastrop and Ruston High Schools, Coach Barmore's reign at his hometown alma mater began in 1977 as an assistant coach. It ended in 2002 when he retired with the highest winning percentage of any coach in the history of college basketball.

His impact on his players transcended the lessons on the court, molding them into highly successful leaders in life following their playing days.

Coach Barmore is enshrined into several top tier hall of fames: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame; Women's Basketball Hall of Fame; Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame; Louisiana Tech Athletics Hall of Fame.
               
The man with the steely stare displayed extraordinary loyalty to Louisiana Tech and Ruston. He bled red and blue. Despite numerous opportunities throughout his career to move to Power 5 programs, Coach Barmore stood firm in his commitment to his alma mater and his community.
               
His passion for both places is only surpassed by his love for his family. Coach Barmore boasts his own starting five: wife Rachel, daughter Shannon, son-in-law Karl, and twin granddaughters Sophie and Ellie. They make up his own personal Hall of Fame.