Building 'Lady Raider Nation': Marsha Sharp reflects 30 years after national title win

April 4, 1993 is such special day in the 100-year history of Texas Tech. It is the day Lady Raider Basketball captured the NCAA National Championship in Atlanta, Georgia. It is one of those events that folks can still tell you exactly where they were and who they were with when they watched the game. It has been an honor for me to share those stories with so many people over the past thirty years, even though it is hard to believe it has been that long.

The players on that team captured the hearts of people all over the country and most especially in West Texas. One of everyone’s favorite memories was coming home to 40,000 people in Jones Stadium. I get emotional now thinking about that special welcome. Nothing about Lady Raider Basketball was ever the same after Atlanta. A few years later, Russell Warren, who was member of our staff labeled our amazing fans as Lady Raider Nation. I love that designation so much. I don’t think there has ever been a fan base that has been as loyal, present, and fully engaged as ours. Many games have been impacted by our fans both at home and on the road by their numbers and passion, and maybe more importantly, great players chose to play at Tech because of the game atmosphere. What an amazing story in itself. Such great stuff!

I have always said that Lady Raider Basketball had so many people in key roles, who captured our vision and provided resources for us to build a strong base. On the campus side in the early days, the leadership of Dr. Robert Ewalt who oversaw women’s athletics was critical. Closer to the time of the championship, the passion and guidance from then-President of Texas Tech, Dr. Robert Lawless was priceless. And finally, from the administrative side nothing would have been possible without Jeannine McHaney. She was the Women’s Director of Athletics who started everything. Her courage and tenacity were unbelievable. Every female who has ever worn a Tech uniform past and present should be grateful for her life’s work. I personally am so thankful that she was able to experience 1993 with us. She was battling cancer during that time, and she lost her battle in the fall of 1994. I don’t think there is any way to describe what the championship meant to her.

There is no way to explain the importance of the Lady Raider Basketball Staff. Linden Weese was our top assistant for 23 years. His work and loyalty could never be matched. Roger Reding was also an assistant coach who was part of the program for around 15 years. Some of my all-time favorite memories of ’93 are ones I shared with them and their families. Terri Meyer White was our graduate assistant. Our support staff was Natalie Steadman, Walt McAlexander, Lance White, DeeDee Moore, and Becky Huffman. We were all from major cities in West Texas named Higgins, Whitharral, Tulia, Littlefield, Lubbock, Shallowater, Levelland, and Spur. We were West Texas to the bone!

Now to the real heroes! There is no way for me to tell you how much I love this team. The entire year they were so focused, so bought in and so drama free that it was almost like living a dream. Little did I know what was in store for all of us. I will start by saying what an honor it was for me to coach the 1993 National Player of the Year. I believe Sheryl Swoopes was the best player of her generation. I don’t know if I have ever watched an athlete take their game to whatever level was necessary for their team to win. That is what #22 did. Her fellow senior Krista Kirkland (now Gerlich) was the most amazing leader I ever coached and was also a great player in our program. The two of them were not going to be denied and they changed Lady Raider Basketball forever. Noel Johnson was a sophomore point guard who ran our team on the floor and she and her backcourt teammate of Stephanie Scott were tenacious on the defensive end of the floor. Cynthia Clinger and Michi Atkins handled the inside duties and the controlled the paint all year. The supporting cast of Janice Farris, Kim Pruitt, Diana Kersey, Nikki Heath, Melinda White and Michelle Thomas were amazing and played their roles perfectly and willingly. They all became major players on following teams.

I am always amazed when we have had an opportunity to be together how quickly we go back to that magical run in the NCAA Tournament. We celebrated the 30th anniversary in February and every player came that weekend. However, we had two members who we tragically lost in the summer of 2020. Noel died after a courageous battle with cancer and Michelle died only a few months later. We were a devastated group. However, as I told them in February, it was so special to watch the way all of them took care of Noel and Michelle and their families, and for sure, how they took care of each other. It lets me know more than ever we are bound for life. The things all of these women have been about the past 30 years is so impressive. They have great careers, they have raised beautiful families and they have been special contributors to their communities.

Krista asked me to speak to her team a few weeks ago and I was so honored to do that. I told her team, that in college basketball, March is when legends are made! The ’93 group of women who mostly hail from small town America, who brought a strong dose of West Texas grit with them, are definitely worthy of legendary status. It was such an amazing honor to coach them and to now call them my friends!

Fearless Champions Ever Be!

(Marsha Sharp was head coach of the Texas Tech women's basketball team from 1982 to 2006, leading the team to the NCAA Championship game that they won on April 4, 1993.)

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Marsha Sharp reflects 30 years after Texas Tech women won NCAA title