Larry Tidwell named head women's basketball coach at Lamar
3/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 28, 2007
BEAUMONT, Texas - Larry Tidwell, associate head women's basketball coach at TCU, has been named head coach at Lamar, as announced by Lamar athletics director Billy Tubbs on Wednesday.
Tidwell has been at TCU for eight seasons, where he has served as recruiting coordinator, while also helping with on-the-floor coaching and individual instruction for TCU's post players. A native of Sanger, Texas, Tidwell was a part of Mittie's original staff that was assembled in 1999.
"Larry brings a lot to the table," Tubbs said. "He is one of the nation's top recruiters and he'll be a great head coach that will bring credibility and respect to our program.
"He has head coaching experience, which was important, and has been very successful wherever he has been. He is someone who I think can bring pride and enthusiasm back to the women's basketball program."
With the Lady Frogs, Tidwell helped the team to seven straight NCAA Tournament appearances. In 2007, TCU reached the 20-win plateau for the sixth time in the last seven seasons en route to placing second in the Mountain West Conference and earning an at-large berth and a No. 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
"Taking the Lamar job is something I could only dream of," Tidwell said. "There are only 335 jobs in Division I and it is an honor and a privilege to be associated with this great university. I am very excited for this opportunity and getting to work with Billy Tubbs again is a big plus for me. I want to express my sincere appreciation to the Horned Frog fans and people that have supported the program. They mean a lot to me and I will certainly miss them."
In his eight years in Fort Worth, Tidwell helped TCU to 173 wins and an overall winning percentage of 67.8. TCU's success speaks for itself, as the Lady Frogs are one of just 12 programs in the country to have been to the NCAA Tournament each of the past seven seasons.
"I am excited for Larry," head coach Jeff Mittie said. "He has been a tremendous asset to the women's basketball program and our university. In some ways I have mixed feelings because I lose a great friend and a great recruiter. Larry is someone who has deserved to be a head coach and it is good to see someone that has worked so hard get that opportunity."
The 2002 AFLAC National Assistant Coach of the Year, Tidwell has 32 years of coaching experience in both the collegiate and high school ranks. A tireless recruiter, Tidwell has been instrumental in bringing in top talent to TCU. The Lady Frogs' 2001 class was ranked as high as fourth nationally, making it the most highly touted in the program's history. The 2003 class was also ranked in the top 10, while the 2000 recruiting class was ranked 22nd in the country.
"I would never have been prepared for the job if not for the eight years I have spent with coach Mittie and TCU," Tidwell said. "I've always said that you are only as good as your administration allows you to be and the TCU administration has been great. Working with the staff at TCU has been terrific and I will miss working with them tremendously."
Tidwell came to TCU after a brief stint as an assistant coach at South Florida. Prior to that post, he served as athletics director and head coach at Mexia (Texas) High School. Before assuming his duties at Mexia, Tidwell spent six seasons as an assistant coach at Baylor.
Tidwell has deep roots in Texas, where he has spent almost his entire coaching career. He made four stops (Frisco, Lexington, Schulenburg and Mexia) and spent 18 years in Texas high schools. He compiled a record of 283-65 (.813) as a high school head coach.
In addition to his ties in Texas, Tidwell is also well known in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida and throughout the Midwest. Tidwell has recruited student-athletes from all over the world and has a reputation as an organized and motivated recruiter who will go anywhere to find talent.
Tidwell earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Austin College in 1976, where he was a standout athlete in football, baseball and track and field. In July 2004, he was inducted into the Austin College Hall of Fame, and the year prior he earned a place in the Sanger High School Hall of Fame. Prior to attending Austin College, Tidwell played freshman football and basketball at TCU.
Tidwell has served on the board of directors of the Texas Girls Coaches Association and the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches. In 1991, he coached in the TGCA All-Star game. He also has worked as assistant director of the TABC summer camps for girls. Named "Teacher of the Year" on two occasions, Tidwell was honored as Schulenburg's "Citizen of the Year" in 1991.
Married to the former Teresa Ann Davis, also of Sanger, the couple has three sons, Marc, Marty and Michael. In addition, Tidwell has two daughters-in-law, Kristin and Michelle, two granddaughters, Ryan and Skylar, and two grandsons, Matthew and William.
