Marsha Sharp (born August 31, 1952)[1] is the former head coach of Texas Tech University's women's basketball team, the Lady Raiders. She retired after 24 years at the conclusion of the 2005–06 season. Sharp was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.

Marsha Sharp
Sharp at the 2013 Women's Basketball Coaches Association convention in New Orleans
Biographical details
Born (1952-08-31) August 31, 1952 (age 72)
Whidbey Island, Washington, U.S.
Alma materWayland Baptist College
West Texas State University
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1981–1982Texas Tech (asst.)
1982–2006Texas Tech
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
2011–presentTexas Tech (asst. AD)
Head coaching record
Overall572–189 (.752)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament (1993)
3 SWC women's basketball tournament (1992, 1993, 1995)
2 Big 12 women's basketball tournament (1998, 1999)
5 SWC Regular Season (1992–1996)
3 Big 12 Regular Season (1998, 1999, 2000)
Awards
2× Big 12 Coach of the Year (1998, 1999)
6× SWC Coach of the Year (1983, 1991–1995)
Russell Athletic/WBCA National Coach of the Year (1995)
Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
The Marsha Sharp Freeway on U.S. Highway 82 in Lubbock

Early life

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Sharp went to high school in Tulia, Texas. She graduated in 1974 from Wayland Baptist University in Plainview. She procured her master's degree in 1976 from West Texas State University (now West Texas A&M University) in Canyon.

Coaching career

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She became the head coach of the Lady Raiders in 1982. For most of the 1980s, Sharp's Lady Raiders were the second-best team in the Southwest Conference, behind the Texas Longhorns under Jody Conradt. However, they dominated the last years of the SWC's existence, winning the last five regular season titles in a row (four outright, one shared) and three conference tournaments. Her best team was the 1992–93 unit, led by Sheryl Swoopes, which won the first NCAA championship by a Texas Tech team in any sport. After Texas Tech became a charter member of the Big 12 Conference in 1996, Sharp added three more regular season titles and two tournament titles.

Sharp's 24-year career won–lost records included a 258–89 record (.744 winning percentage) in conference play (Southwest Conference and Big 12 Conference combined) and a 572–189 record (.752 winning percentage) overall with no losing seasons.

In 2003, Sharp was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.[2] The Marsha Sharp Center for Student-Athletes on the campus of Texas Tech and the Marsha Sharp Freeway in Lubbock are both named after Sharp.

Following Sharp's retirement from coaching, she was named Associate Athletic Director for Special Projects within the Texas Tech Athletic Department.[3]

Head coaching record

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Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Texas Tech Lady Raiders (Southwest Conference) (1982/83–1995/96)
1982–83 Texas Tech 22–9 6–2 2nd NWIT Fifth Place
1983–84 Texas Tech 23–7 13–3 2nd NCAA first round
1984–85 Texas Tech 24–8 12–4 2nd NWIT Third Place
1985–86 Texas Tech 21–9 13–3 2nd NCAA second round
1986–87 Texas Tech 18–11 10–6 3rd
1987–88 Texas Tech 17–13 9–7 3rd
1988–89 Texas Tech 15–13 9–7 3rd
1989–90 Texas Tech 20–11 11–5 3rd NCAA first round
1990–91 Texas Tech 23–8 12–4 3rd NCAA first round
1991–92 Texas Tech 27–5 13–1 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1992–93 Texas Tech 31–3 13–1 1st NCAA Champions
1993–94 Texas Tech 28–5 12–2 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1994–95 Texas Tech 33–4 13–1 1st NCAA Elite Eight
1995–96 Texas Tech 27–5 13–1 T–1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
Texas Tech Lady Raiders (Big 12 Conference) (1996/97–2005/06)
1996–97 Texas Tech 20–9 11–5 4th NCAA second round
1997–98 Texas Tech 26–5 15–1 1st NCAA second round
1998–99 Texas Tech 30–4 14–2 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1999–00 Texas Tech 28–5 13–3 T–1st NCAA Elite Eight
2000–01 Texas Tech 25–7 13–3 2nd NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2001–02 Texas Tech 20–12 8–8 7th NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2002–03 Texas Tech 29–6 13–3 3rd NCAA Elite Eight
2003–04 Texas Tech 25–8 10–6 T–4th NCAA second round
2004–05 Texas Tech 24–8 12–4 T–3rd NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2005–06 Texas Tech 15–14 9–7 5th
Texas Tech: 571–189 257–89
Total: 571–189 (.751)

      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

Awards and honors

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References

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  1. ^ "Women's Basketball Coaches Career". NCAA. Retrieved 25 Sep 2015.
  2. ^ "WBHOF Inductees". WBHOF. Retrieved 2009-08-01.
  3. ^ "Sharp takes leadership spot at Tech". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved 2020-08-31.
  4. ^ "Past Russell Athletic/WBCA National Coaches of the Year". Women's Basketball Coaches Association. Retrieved 30 Jun 2014.
  5. ^ "Carol Eckman Award". Women's Basketball Coaches Association. Archived from the original on 2014-07-15. Retrieved 1 Jul 2014.
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