News Release
LETU to Honor Mary Ann Otwell at Retirement Reception April 29
Mon, Apr 26 2010
After 17 years serving in many capacities at LeTourneau University, former head women's
basketball coach and senior women's administrator Mary Ann Otwell announced her retirement
effective at the end of the 2009-10 school year. The School of Education and the Athletics
Department will host a reception to honor Otwell at 2 p.m., Thursday, April 29 at the Steudler
Lounge in the Solheim Recreation and Activity Center.
“Mary Ann brought excellence to LeTourneau athletics with her championship teams,” LeTourneau
University President Dr. Dale Lunsford said. “She prepared many student-athletes to excel in both
competition and in character. I thank God for her years here.”
Otwell came to LeTourneau in the fall of 1993 where she reinitiated the women’s basketball
program in the fall of 1994. During her career at LeTourneau, two of her teams won the National
Christian College Championships and produced five All-Americans. She was also named NCCAA Coach of
the Year twice.
“At the time we did not have a women’s basketball program, but we were wanting to expand our
athletic offerings and women’s basketball was at the top of our list,” former LeTourneau University
President Dr. Alvin “Bud” Austin said. “Mary Ann Otwell actually came to us and said I think I
would like to become involved with an institution like LeTourneau with its commitments to spiritual
principles and academic quality. We knew of her reputation as a coach of winning programs, even on
the national level, and so we jumped at the opportunity. Initially she just taught classes, but
then began to put together the women’s program and had very quick success. Mary Ann Otwell has
provided outstanding leadership to our athletic endeavors and has served as a role model to all
students, especially the women of LeTourneau.”
Otwell graduated from Waldo High School in Waldo, Ark., in 1960 and went on to Ouachita
Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Ark., where she played basketball for head coach Carolyn Moffit
and also played tennis. On the hardwood, Otwell led the Tigerette basketball team to an AAU State
championship in 1961 and 1962 and was the team’s leading scorer and an All-State selections both
years.
After the 1962 season, she was selected to the National Women’s Basketball League All-Star
team. On the tennis court, Otwell was a runner-up in the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference
singles championship as a freshman and followed that with three straight AIC singles titles. She
was an AIC champion in doubles all four years. She graduated in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science in
Education degree and completed her Masters of Science in Education at Arkansas State University in
Jonesboro, Ark., in 1969.
Her coaching career began in 1964 at Richland High School in Essex, Mo., and returned to her
alma mater, Ouachita Baptist University, in 1969 to coach volleyball and tennis, and also taught in
the kinesiology department. She moved south to Stephens High School where she won the State
Championship and the Overall State Championship of all Divisions. Otwell’s journey then continued
to head south and east on the map to East Texas.
Otwell became the girls high school coach at Elysian Fields High School and was there for two
years. She was then invited to begin the women’s basketball program at Panola Junior College in
Carthage, Texas. Otwell guided the school to a pair of National Junior College Championships and
was twice named the National Junior College Coach of the Year and Texas Sportswriters Coach of the
Year. She coached four All-Americans while at Panola.
After four great years at Panola, Otwell moved on to Stephen F. Austin State University in
Nacogdoches, Texas, to become the assistant women’s basketball coach for two years, and then the
head coach the next four. One of her biggest thrills came while coaching at Stephen F. Austin as
she handed Tennessee head coach Pat Summit a loss. Otwell had NCAA Division I playoff appearances
every year.
Prior to coming to LeTourneau, Otwell spent nine years before returning to the coaching
sidelines in a private business. She began the LeTourneau program in 1993 and retired from coaching
in the spring of 2001 with a 130-73 record. In her historic career, Otwell never had a losing
season and amassed a 292-142 record.
Her services as a collegiate coach may have ended in 2001, but Otwell remained at LeTourneau
and served as the assistant athletic director, senior woman administrator, NCAA compliance officer,
advisor to the National Student Athletic Advisory Council and works to grow and develop the
YellowJacket athletic club.
Otwell, who loves to golf, play the piano and spend time with family and friends, is a member
four hall of fames – Ouachita Baptist University Athletic Hall of Fame, National Junior College
Athletic Association Hall of Fame, Panola Junior College Hall of Fame and LeTourneau University
Hall of Fame.
“Coach Otwell has contributed her national championship talent to LeTourneau University for
more than a decade and a half,” said Dr. William McDowell, LeTourneau’s Executive Vice President
for Business and Administration. “She will be missed. It is our desire to thank her and to wish her
God’s very best in her retirement.”
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| Mary Ann Otwell |