Gary Blair

College coach infobox
Name = Gary Blair


Width =
Caption =
DateOfBirth =
Birthplace = flagicon|Texas Dallas, Texas
DateOfDeath =
Deathplace =
Sport = Basketball
College = Texas A&M University
Title = Head Coach
Contract = $800,000
CurrentRecord = 102–58
OverallRecord = 510–221
BowlRecord =
Awards = Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year (2007)cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = 2006-07 Phillips 66 All-Big 12 Conference Women's Basketball Awards Announced | work = | publisher = Big 12 Conference | date = 2005-03-02 | url = http://www.big12sports.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/030207aac.html | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-03-07 ]
TABC Women's Basketball Coach of the Year (2006, 2007)
National Coach of the Year, Women's Basketball News Service (2006)
Southland Conference Coach of the Year (1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993)
Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee
Championships = Big 12 Conference Tournament Championship (2008)
Big 12 Conference Championship (2007)
WNIT Championship (1999)
Southland Conference Championship (1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993)
Southland Conference Tournament Championship (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993)
Texas Class 4A High School Championship (1977, 1978, 1980)
CFbDWID =
Player =
Years =
Team =
Position =
Coach = Y
CoachYears = 1973–1980
1980–1985
1985–1993
1993–2003
2003–present
CoachTeams = South Oak Cliff HS
Louisiana Tech (asst.)
Stephen F. Austin
Arkansas
Texas A&M
FootballHOF =
CollegeHOFID =
BBallHOF =

Gary Claude Blair is the head coach of the Texas A&M University women's basketball team. In his 23 years as a head coach, Blair has only suffered one losing season, and has reached postseason play 17 times, including 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Final Four appearance in 1988. He is listed in the top 35 of the all-time winningest active NCAA Division 1 women's basketball coaches, and is one of the few coaches to guide three different schools to national rankings and NCAA Tournament berths.

Early life

Gary Blair was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, where he attended Bryan Adams High School and was named an all-city baseball player. Following his high school graduation he completed a four-year tour of duty in the U.S. Marine Corps before earning a bachelor's degree in health and physical education with a minor in journalism from Texas Tech University (while playing a year of baseball for the Red Raiders). He earned his master's degree in education from Texas Tech in 1974.

Early coaching career

Blair gained head coaching experience at Dallas's South Oak Cliff High School. In his seven seasons there, he set a state record with five consecutive state tournament appearances and a 239-18 record. His teams won three state Class 4A championships, in 1977, 1978, and 1980, and finished as the runner-up in 1979 by only two points. For his efforts, Blair was inducted into the Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame.

Following his success in the high school ranks, Blair accepted a job as an assistant coach at Louisiana Tech under Leon Barmore.cite web | last = Cessna | first = Robert | coauthors = | title = Big 12 Coaches Owe Much to Louisiana Tech | work= | pages = | language = English | publisher = The Bryan-College Station Eagle | date = January 16, 2007 | url =http://www.aggiesports.com/stories/011607/wbasketball_20070116043.php | accessdate = 2007-04-13] During his five seasons there, La. Tech reached the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament four times, winning two national championships.

Head coaching career

tephen F. Austin (1985–1993)

Blair's first head coaching experience at the collegiate level came at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas. In his eight years with the school, he compiled a 210-43 record, including 25 wins in just his second season as a head coach. His teams won seven straight conference championships, appearing in the NCAA Tournament six teams, and, during his last six seasons, his teams were consistently ranked in the final AP Top 25 polls. The team's success was noticed by their fans, who increased home attendance enough to allow the school to rank in the top 12 of NCAA Division 1 attendance leaders.

Arkansas (1993–2003)

As the head coach of the women's basketball team at Arkansas, Blair compiled a 198-120 record. During his first season, the Lady Razorbacks won 15 of their 29 games, their first winning season in several years. The following year his team, which consisted of 9 freshmen and sophomores, won 23 games and reached the second round of the NCAA tournament.

In the summer of 1996, while his Arkansas team was in their offseason, Blair spent several months in Taiwan as the assistant coach of the U.S. Jones Cup team, which won the gold medal and became the first U.S. team to be undefeated at the Jones Cup tournament. Every one of the players he helped coach during that tournament later went on to play in the WNBA.

Blair made history with his 1997-1998 team. The team, unranked in the national polls, received a number 9 seed for the NCAA Tournament and reached the NCAA Final Four, an unprecedented occurrence. His teams reached the semifinals in the SEC tournament in both 2001 and 2002.

In his final season with the Lady Razorbacks, the team finished the season ranked 24th nationally and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Texas A&M University (2003–present)

Blair came to Texas A&M in 2003, taking over the Big 12 Conference's worst team, which had not had a winning season in seven years.cite web | last = Smith | first = Kate | coauthors = | title = Built from scratch: Blair, Texas A&M on a roll | work= | pages = | language = English | publisher = "USAToday" | date = February 10, 2006 | url =http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/columnist/katesmith/2006-02-10-smith-texasam_x.htm | accessdate = 2007-04-13] In his first season with Texas A&M, Blair worked very hard to attract fans to the women's basketball games, and by the end of the season attendance had increased 71 percent over the previous year, the best increase in the Big 12 Conference. For the first time in his career, however, one of Blair's team suffered a losing season.cite web | last = Davoust | first = Kyle | coauthors = | title = Women's head coach Gary Blair seeks more improvement through patience | work= | pages = | language = English | publisher = "The Battalion" | date = November 16, 2004 | url =http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2004/11/16/Sports/Womens.Head.Coach.Gary.Blair.Seeks.More.Improvement.Through.Patience-806169.shtml | accessdate = 2007-04-13]

The following year the Aggies improved, earning a postseason invitation for the first time since 1996.

In his third season with the Aggies, Blair guided his team to their first Associated Press Top 25 ranking in ten years. The team won 23 games (losing 9), the third-most victories in school history and a tie for the most victories in conference play ever (11 wins, 5 losses in conference). The team finished third in the Big 12, and reached the semifinals in the Big 12 Women's Championship Tournament. With a Number 6 seed to the NCAA Tournament (A&M's first such invitation since 1996), Blair became only the fourth coach in NCAA history to take three different schools to the NCAA Tournament, although this became his only appearance where his team lost in the first round.cite web | last = Nadel | first = John | coauthors = | title = It's strictly business for Texas A&M on this visit to California | work= | pages =
language = English | publisher = "USAToday" | date = March 16, 2007 | url =http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/womensbasketball/2007-03-16-1034374075_x.htm | accessdate = 2007-04-13]

Following their successful season, Blair was named the Women's Basketball News Service National Coach of the Year.cite web | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = Gary Blair | work= | pages = | language = English | publisher = Texas A&M University Athletic Department | date = | url =http://www.aggieathletics.com/coaches.php?SID=WBB&CID=130 | accessdate = 2007-04-13]

Overall, in his first three years as the head coach of the Aggies, A&M home attendance increased 156%, with a school-record 11,088 fans watching the team play Baylor University.

In the 2006-2007 season, Blair's Aggies again reached the NCAA Tournament, this time as the fourth seed, and advanced to the second round of the tournament. This marked the first time in Aggie history that the women's basketball team had earned consecutive NCAA tournament berths, as well as their first set of consecutive 20-win seasons.cite web | last = Patrick | first = Dick | coauthors = | title = On women's basketball: Texas A&M completes tournaround | work= | pages = | language = English | publisher = "USAToday" | date = March 6, 2007 | url =http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/womensbasketball/2007-03-06-women-basketball-notes_N.htm | accessdate = 2007-04-13]

On February 20, 2008, Blair posted his 500th career win as a head coach at Reed Arena against the Iowa State Cyclones. [cite press release|url=http://www.aggieathletics.com/games.php?SID=WBB&SSID=8236|title=Blair picks up No. 500 With Win Over ISU|publisher=Texas A&M Athletics|accessdate=2008-02-21|date=2008-02-20]

In the 2007–08 season, Blair led his squad to a school-first NCAA Elite Eight appearance and a 29–8 overall record. The record remains to be the winningest season in team history. The team also won the 2008 Big 12 conference tournament title. In the NCAA tournament, the team lost to eventual national champion Tennessee. After the season, the Texas A&M Board of Regents approved a one-year contract extension through 2012, and a $150,000 salary raise to $800,000 annually. [cite news|url=http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/08/ams-blair-receives-extension-raise.html|title=A&M's Blair receives extension, raise]

Coaching record

CBB Yearly Record Start
type=coach
conference=
postseason=
poll=noCBB Yearly Record Subhead
name=Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks
startyear=1985
conference=Southland Conference
endyear=1993CBB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
season = 1985–1986
name = Stephen F. Austin
overall = 16–12
conference = 7–3
confstanding =
postseason =
ranking = no
ranking2 = noCBB Yearly Record Entry
championship = conference
season = 1986–1987
name = Stephen F. Austin
overall = 25–6
conference = 9–1
confstanding = 1st
postseason = NWIT
ranking = no
ranking2 = noCBB Yearly Record Entry
championship = conference
season = 1987–1988
name = Stephen F. Austin
overall = 29–5
conference = 13–1
confstanding = 1st
postseason = NCAA Second Round
ranking = no
ranking2 = noCBB Yearly Record Entry
championship = conference
season = 1988–1989
name = Stephen F. Austin
overall = 30–4
conference = 13–1
confstanding = 1st
postseason = NCAA Sweet Sixteen
ranking = no
ranking2 = noCBB Yearly Record Entry
championship = conference
season = 1989–1990
name = Stephen F. Austin
overall = 28–3
conference = 14–0
confstanding = 1st
postseason = NCAA Sweet Sixteen
ranking = no
ranking2 = noCBB Yearly Record Entry
championship = conference
season = 1990–1991
name = Stephen F. Austin
overall = 25–6
conference = 14–0
confstanding = 1st
postseason = NCAA Second Round
ranking = no
ranking2 = noCBB Yearly Record Entry
championship = conference
season = 1991–1992
name = Stephen F. Austin
overall = 28–3
conference = 17–1
confstanding = 1st
postseason = NCAA Sweet Sixteen
ranking = no
ranking2 = noCBB Yearly Record Entry
championship = conference
season = 1992–1993
name = Stephen F. Austin
overall = 28–5
conference = 17–1
confstanding = 1st
postseason = NCAA Sweet Sixteen
ranking = no
ranking2 = noCBB Yearly Record Subtotal
name = Stephen F. Austin
overall = 210–43
confrecord = 104–8CBB Yearly Record Subhead
name=Arkansas Ladybacks
startyear=1993
conference=Southeastern Conference
endyear=2003CBB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
season = 1993–1994
name = Arkansas
overall = 15–14
conference = 3–8
confstanding = 9th
postseason =
ranking = no
ranking2 = noCBB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
season = 1994–1995
name = Arkansas
overall = 23–7
conference = 7–4
confstanding = T–4th
postseason = NCAA Second Round
ranking = no
ranking2 = noCBB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
season = 1995–1996
name = Arkansas
overall = 21–13
conference = 3–8
confstanding = 10th
postseason = NWIT Fourth Place
ranking = no
ranking2 = noCBB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
season = 1996–1997
name = Arkansas
overall = 18–10
conference = 5–7
confstanding = T–7th
postseason =
ranking = no
ranking2 = noCBB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
season = 1997–1998
name = Arkansas
overall = 22–11
conference = 7–7
confstanding = T–6th
postseason = NCAA Final Four
ranking = no
ranking2 = noCBB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
season = 1998–1999
name = Arkansas
overall = 20–14
conference = 5–9
confstanding = 11th
postseason = WNIT Champions
ranking = no
ranking2 = noCBB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
season = 1999–2000
name = Arkansas
overall = 17–15
conference = 4–10
confstanding = 10th
postseason = WNIT Semifinals
ranking = no
ranking2 = noCBB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
season = 2000–2001
name = Arkansas
overall = 20–13
conference = 6–8
confstanding = T–6th
postseason = NCAA Second Round
ranking = no
ranking2 = noCBB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
season = 2001–2002
name = Arkansas
overall = 22–11
conference = 7–7
confstanding = T–7th
postseason = NCAA Second Round
ranking = no
ranking2 = noCBB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
season = 2002–2003
name = Arkansas
overall = 22–11
conference = 7–7
confstanding = 7th
postseason = NCAA Second Round
ranking = no
ranking2 = noCBB Yearly Record Subtotal
name = Arkansas
overall = 198–120
confrecord = 54–75CBB Yearly Record Subhead
name=Texas A&M Aggies
startyear=2003
conference=Big 12 Conference
endyear=presentCBB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
season = 2003–2004
name = Texas A&M
overall = 9–19
conference = 2–14
confstanding = T–11th
postseason =
ranking = no
ranking2 = noCBB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
season = 2004–2005
name = Texas A&M
overall = 16–15
conference = 4–12
confstanding = T–9th
postseason = WNIT Quarterfinals
ranking = no
ranking2 = noCBB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
season = 2005–2006
name = Texas A&M
overall = 23–9
conference = 11–5
confstanding = 3rd
postseason = NCAA First Round
ranking = no
ranking2 = noCBB Yearly Record Entry
championship = conference
season = 2006–2007
name = Texas A&M
overall = 25–7
conference = 13–3
confstanding = T–1st
postseason = NCAA Second Round
ranking = no
ranking2 = noCBB Yearly Record Entry
championship = conference tournament
season = 2007–2008
name = Texas A&M
overall = 29–8
conference = 11–5
confstanding = T–3rd
postseason = NCAA Elite Eight
ranking = no
ranking2 = noCBB Yearly Record Subtotal
name = Texas A&M
overall = 102–58
confrecord = 41–39CBB Yearly Record End
overall = 510–221
poll = no

Coaching style

Blair is known foremost for being a teacher. He constantly stresses to his players the value of studying and earning a good education, and works to instill in his players confidence and a sense of accountability. He stresses offensive rebounding and defense to his teams, and his 2007 Texas A&M team ranked among the nation's best in scoring defense, blocket shots, and steals.

Much of his recruiting is done in-state, and Blair says that he recruits students for their offensive showing and then teaches them to play defense later.

Family

Blair is married to Dr. Nan Smith-Blair, a nursing assistant professor. The couple has two children and a grandson.

References

External links

* [http://www.aggieathletics.com/coaches.php?SID=WBB&CID=130 Coach Blair's biography]