Wunder tries to get the best out of 'Dogs

September 8, 1993
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)

The Bulldog women’s basketball program has been a consistent one over the years, but lately a downslide has plagued the team.

In 1990, the Bulldogs were a respectable 21-12, then 16-13 in ’91 and 13-15 in ’92. Last season, FSU experienced a tough initiation into the WAC.

New head coach Linda Wunder has arrived to bring back the winning tradition the ’Dogs have grown to love.

In eight years as a collegiate coach, Wunder has never posted a losing record. Compiling a 147-73 record and a .668 winning percentage, she is accustomed to success.

"Exactly how we’ll do is up to us. Our players have to work hard and do what needs to be done. More than wins and losses, I’ve always been able to get my teams to bring out the best in themselves and each other. And that’s all any coach can ask of their team," says Wunder.

Wunder, 34, was hired on July 7 and has had a busy summer. "I’ve been trying to put things into place," she says.

The coaching spot had been vacated by long-time skipper Bob Spencer, who in 12 years was the winningest Bulldog coach in school history. In his long and impressive career, he coached at the collegiate level 27 years, with close to 600 wins. Spencer is the second winningest coach in Division I women’s basketball.

"I think you just have to keep things in perspective," says Wunder, who is not given to rumors that the ’Dogs will look over their shoulders. "Obviously, he was a great coach, or he wouldn’t have won almost 600 games.

"He built a strong tradition here, and my job is to make this program move ahead, build on that, and allow that success to continue."

Says Wunder, "Hopefully, we’ll be more competitive this time around in the WAC. We have a better idea of who we’ll go up against, and we can pick up what it takes to win in this league."

Her first two years coaching were spent at Wisconsin-Stevens Point, an NCAA Division III school, where she won a national title and went 42-9. For the last six years, Wunder was head coach at Miami (Ohio) University, putting together a team that went 105-64 over that span. She played at Illinois and gained Academic All-Big Ten honors.

"The fact that they (FSU athletic department) would go all the way to Ohio to get a coach is hard to believe," says Wunder. "Our program does recruit exceptionally well," she adds, noting that a large majority of the Bulldogs are out-of-state recruits.

"At Fresno State, we try and get the best possible players.

"If we have to go out of state, we’ll do that. But we’d eventually like to get and retain more local talent," says Wunder.

Looking at the current Bulldogs, what does she see?

"Suzanne Zahasky’s coming back. Being a great scorer and leader, that should only improve us."
Zahasky would like that role, too.

"I haven’t really talked to her yet, but she does have a good track record, and that should help us get better," Zahasky said.

Wunder adds, "Staci Oddo had an exceptionally good freshman year. We hope that she’ll play up to what she showed a year ago."

"We have young players and a young team. My job is to get them to develop, and make sure the contributors show up."