Place of Birth: Jonesboro, Louisiana

Education: Northwestern State Univ.

Playing Honors: Gulf Star Conference MVP (`87)

Overall Record: ..........196-93 (10th yr.)

Southern Record: ..........120-83 (8th yr.)

SWAC Record:..............85-41 (8th yr.)

Alma Mater (Year): .....Northwestern State (1987)

COLLEGIATE COACHING CAREER:

1990-95 - Assistant Coach Northeast Louisiana (ULM)

1995-96 - Assistant Coach Central Florida University

1996-00 - Head Coach Meridian Community College

2000-Present - Head Coach Southern University

COACHING ACHIEVEMENTS:

1998 - Led Meridian Community College to a NJCAA National Tournament.

2001-02 - Led Southern University to the school's first regular season championship, tournament championship and NCAA tournament appearance.

2001-02 - Named the SWAC Coach of the Year

2003-04 - Led Southern University to its second tournament championship and NCAA appearance.

2003-04 - Named the SWAC Tournament Coach of the Year

2005-06 - Led Southern to its third tournament championship and NCAA appearance. Tied Alcorn State for most trips to the NCAA tournament in the SWAC.

2005-06 - Named the SWAC Tournament Coach of the Year

When you begin a career winning championships, old habits tend to die-hard. As an All State performer at Lakeview High School in Campti (LA) Coach Sandy Pugh was responsible for two State Championships and at Northwestern State University her Alma mater (BS, 1987) she was an All Conference selection for 3 years and Conference MVP her senior year. As a player she was known for her work ethic.

As a coach she has carried that same ethic into her coaching the game she loves. She instills discipline into her players and has developed many all conference performers over the years while working as an assistant coach at ULM, Central Florida and Northwestern State and a head coaching stint at Meridian Community College. Coach Pugh was primed to bring forth the level of competitiveness long awaited by Jaguar fans in their women's program at Southern University.

Known for her insight and vision. She encourages her athletes to get involved in the community and their institution. From student government associations to participating in numerous off campus community outreach programs each year to scheduling network forums and female administrators to speak with the athletes on how to plan for their individual success beyond the boundaries basketball. This program is expands the horizons of each athlete.

Coach Pugh has brought the program and Southern University to an unprecedented level of prominence in her short tenure, a feat that has not gone unnoticed. Coach Pugh presently serves on the Top 25 Coaches poll, ACE program presenter for the Black Coaches Association, the Frances Pomeroy Committee, as conference captain and recently turned down a nomination by her peers to serve on the WBCA board representing the Black Coaches Association. She has been recognized by the board of supervisor's with the "award of pre-eminence" and numerous accolades from various organizations in the last few years.

Respect has to be earned and Coach Pugh received it almost immediately. After finishing second in the conference her first year with a 19-10 record, she narrowed her sights on the crown. In 2001-02 she distinguished herself all of her predecessors by claiming the first outright women's basketball title and representing the conference in the NCAA tournament another first. With a 26-5 overall record, Coach Pugh defeated ACC and Conference USA foes in sound fashion and posted the longest winning streak in school history at 17 games. That same year she had the first female athlete to be drafted into the WNBA from the SWAC all on her way to being named the 2002 Southwestern Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.

But, after finishing fourth in 2002-03 and losing nine letter winners, the program was headed in the wrong direction. Twenty-nine games later and the Jaguars were headed to the dance (the NCAA tournament) once again. The fifth toughest preseason schedule took the team to La Tech, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Alabama ending in Texas and the NCAA tournament. Bringing and end to a season that started out rocky, then turned into one of the most memorable.

The Cinderella season began with a two returnees and a lot of freshmen and newcomers. The team finished the regular season at 17-12 and went on the represent the Conference in the NCAA tournament. Those same kids came back and had high expectations for the 2004-05 season. The captivating slogan "Come for the ride, stay for the dance," summed it up. As Coach Pugh entered her fifth season at the helm of the Southern University Women's basketball program, everyone witnessed great levels of basketball athleticism and precision during the year. Having transformed the program from the conference doormat to a regional power. With notable wins over Division I opponents such as Georgia Tech, East Carolina, South Alabama, the University of Idaho and numerous others the Jaguars have stunned and silenced all critics. When asked about the program and the upcoming season, she smiles with a far away look, as though visualizing the next championship and climbing the ladder (scissors in hand). Such was the now famous picture of Jacklyn Winfield cutting the nets in 2001-02. Though Winfield is long gone the legacy of that picture and team remains the cornerstone for Jaguar women's basketball.