Dr. Joann Rutherford Named SEC Legend
2/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Mizzou's own Dr. Joann Rutherford was named SEC Legend as announced today by the Southeastern Conference office. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Rutherford's 1984-85 Big 8 Championship team. Rutherford will be recognized at today's game vs. Auburn at 2 p.m. and at the Southeastern Conference Championship.
Joann Rutherford is Missouri's winningest head women's basketball coach, boasting a 422-262 career record at Mizzou. Her career wins total of 422 ranked among the NCAA's top 35 all-time at the time of her retirement. Her teams won 20 or more games 11 times, including an impressive stretch from 1977-87 where they did so 10 times in 11 seasons.
She led the Tigers to six NCAA tournament appearances and three Big Eight Conference Titles. Her squads won the Big Eight Tournament three times as well.
Under Rutherford, the Tigers finished the season ranked among the top 20 in the Final AP poll four times, including a No. 11 ranking in 1984.
Rutherford coached eight Tigers to All-America honors and was recognized as Big Eight Coach of the year three times in her career. She was also tabbed as the Big Eight Coach of the Decade for the 1980s, when her teams went a combined 213-98 (.685 winning percentage).
Highly-regarded among her peers, Rutherford served on many high-level national committees, and coached the South team in 1986 to a gold medal in the U.S. Olympic Festival.
