Counting down the top 10 Texas Tech coaches of the Big 12 era

No. 5: Marsha Sharp

Were this a list about career accomplishments, Marsha Sharp would sit at No. 1.  But because of the fact that her crowning achievement, the 1993 National Title, came prior to the advent of the Big 12, she comes in at No. 5.

The legendary former head coach of the Lady Raiders was part of the Big 12 battle for ten seasons.  During that time, she amassed three straight conference crowns from 1997-98 to 1999-00.

Also, Sharp took her program to the NCAA Tournament every year from 1997-2005.  During that time, she managed to reach the Sweet 16 four times and the Elite 8 twice.

During her entire career, which ran from 1982-2006, she was a model of consistency.  That was true in the Big 12 era as well when she rattled off at least 20 wins in each season but her last.

By the time most legendary coaches retire, they have hit a place in their careers where they are simply holding on to past glory and are irrelevant in their given sport.  But Sharp took her second-to-last Lady Raider team to the Sweet 16 proving that she still had the ability to field a winner until the end.

She’s without question the most decorated coach in Texas Tech history and one of only two coaches to ever bring a National Title to Lubbock. And even in the more competitive and rugged Big 12, she went 242-90 and was able to field teams that were among the very best in the league.