DENVER – Linda Raunig, the all-time winningest women's basketball coach in Regis history, has announced her retirement as head coach. Raunig, who has been at the helm for 25 years, directed the Rangers program to postseason play 18 of her 25 seasons including four Colorado Athletic Conference semifinals and 15 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Shootout appearances. She has enjoyed a storied career full of personal and team accomplishments.
Raunig took reign of the women’s basketball program during the 1990-91 season after spending time as an assistant coach for three different NCAA Division I programs. Prior to Regis she spent three seasons at Ball State University (Ind.), two years at Arizona State University, and four seasons at Washington State University.
Under Raunig’s tutelage, the Ranger women’s basketball program has tallied 404 wins including three straight RMAC regular season titles and two RMAC Shootout titles. Prior to the 2014-15 season, Raunig ranked 24th among the winningest active NCAA Division II coaches with 388 wins. Raunig earned her 400th win during the 2014-15 season as the Rangers defeated Black Hills State on the road, 62-59.
Since her arrival at Regis, Raunig produced one RMAC Player of the Year (Diana Lopez, 2004-05, 2005-06, and 2006-07), 68 all-conference players, and 101 academic all-conference selections. The two-time RMAC Coach of the Year (2004-04 and 2005-06) guided the Rangers to the RMAC Shootout 11 straight seasons. Raunig has coached four players to All-America honors and qualified for the NCAA Tournament five times (2001-02, 2002-03, 2004-05, 2005-06, and 2006-07). Raunig led Regis to six 20-or-more win seasons throughout her time at Regis.
From 1998-99 to 2010-11, the Rangers and Raunig had the best winning percentage of any four-year school in all of Colorado with a 242-136 mark for a .640 winning percentage. In 2005-06, Raunig set two new school records in most wins (26) and most conference wins (18). For all of her success she was named the Sportswomen of Colorado Coach of the Year in 2005.
Facilitating a successful program off the court has become a trademark of Raunig's career. More impressive than any of the basketball accomplishments she has seen in her time at Regis, Raunig owns a 100 percent graduation rate of all the student-athletes that have completed their athletic eligibility at Regis. Her teams have posted a GPA of 3.00-or-above in 49 of 50 semesters while ranking in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Academic Top 25 nine of the past17 years. Her 1997-98 team stood at the top with the highest GPA in the nation at a 3.565 team average.
“Coach Raunig has been an integral part of the rich history and tradition of Regis and Ranger athletics during her distinguished 25 years,” said Athletic Director Ann Martin. “She has diligently served Regis University in countless ways as a coach, leader, mentor, and staff member, and her dedication and commitment to the Regis way will be greatly missed.”
A national search for a new coach will begin immediately.