Kevin McGuff, the Ohio State University women’s basketball team’s head coach, is one of the famous personalities in collegiate sports. However, there is a great woman behind his success, Letitia McGuff. A retired basketball star and coach, Letitia has been right at the center of Kevin’s professional as well as personal life.
Their story is a story of shared love, respect for one another, and dedication to family and the sport they idolize. As we explore Letitia McGuff’s life, we discover the layers of a woman who has effortlessly merged roles of an athlete, a coach, a wife, and a mother.
Letitia McGuff: From Notre Dame Star to Coaching Mentor
Letitia Bowen McGuff left her mark with being an outstanding player for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish women’s basketball team in the early 1990s. She is second in the all-time list of the school for rebounds (999) and rebound average (8.8), eighth in blocked shots (76), and 13th in scoring (1,205 points).
Her leadership quality on the court also came out strongly since she started in 102 games at an average of 10.7 points per game.
Transitioning from player to coach, Letitia served as an assistant coach at Notre Dame from 1996 to 1999, then as director of basketball operations from 1999 to 2001, and returned as an assistant coach between 2002 and 2003.
During her tenure, the team consistently advanced to the NCAA Tournament, reaching the Final Four in 1997 and clinching the national title in 2001.
Being a coach meant more to her than just studying tactics and managing games for her. She spent her time mentoring girls and helping to increase the quality of women’s basketball. The impact of Letitia’s work ethic and her love for players is seen in the Notre Dame program’s history.
She retired from coaching in 2003 and then spent time raising her six children with Kevin. Still, her effect on basketball could be seen as she started the Impact Basketball Academy in Cincinnati, supporting the development of young players.
The McGuff Family: A Legacy of Basketball and Love
Basketball is far more than a profession for the McGuffs. It’s a family affair. Their daughter Kilyn McGuff took after her parents and played college basketball, and in a game, she went head-to-head with her father’s team in a memorable game.
Kevin remarked, “My wife and I are extremely proud of her. She’s done an amazing job. She’s really growing on and off the court.”
The family’s tradition of playing basketball does not stop there. Another daughter, Keiryn McGuff, represents the Bowling Green State Falcons, which means the family is inherently linked to the sport. Kevin once shared, “We’re about as basketball family as it gets.”
Letitia’s former coach, Muffet McGraw, who introduced her to Kevin, remains a close family friend and is Kilyn’s godmother. Kevin acknowledged, “She’s obviously very influential in Letitia and I’s lives.”
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The McGuff family’s unity and mutual interest in basketball have always assisted them in passing through highs and lows. From a college basketball star to a loving mother and reliable mentor, however, Letitia’s life story tells a lot about a single person’s value to the family and community.
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