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HU's Culler earns spot in Hoosier hoops hall

Huntington University Head Women's Basketball Coach Lori Culler (left), shown instructing HU guard Maddie Richer earlier this season, was named the winner of the 2019 Indiana Fever Silver Medal Award on Tuesday, Dec. 11. The award includes induction into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.
Huntington University Head Women's Basketball Coach Lori Culler (left), shown instructing HU guard Maddie Richer earlier this season, was named the winner of the 2019 Indiana Fever Silver Medal Award on Tuesday, Dec. 11. The award includes induction into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. Photo provided.

Veteran Huntington University head women’s basketball coach Lori Culler was named the winner of the Indiana Fever Silver Medal Award by the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Board of Directors on Tuesday, Dec. 11.

The award includes induction into the hall for contributions other than as an Indiana high school basketball player or Indiana high school basketball coach.

Culler, a 1985 graduate of then-Huntington College, is in her 33rd season of coaching at now Huntington University. She is the winningest active NAIA Division II women’s basketball coach in the nation, having entered this season with a record of 576-377, a .604 winning percentage.

Her teams have recorded 24 winning seasons, including seven conference championships, a pair of conference tournament championships, six NAIA national tournament appearances and were the 1991 and 1992 NCCAA national champions. She has won nine conference coach of the year awards and was twice named the NCCAA National Coach of the Year.

Culler joins such Hoosier basketball luminaries as Muffett McGraw, Tamika Catching and Linn Dunn. In winning the honor.

“I’m deeply honored and humbled to receive this prestigious award, “ said Culler. “I’m thankful to Huntington University for the opportunity I was given 33 years ago to pursue a passion.

“It has been such a blessing to be surrounded by caring mentors, loyal assistant coaches and talented players who have been on this journey with me. I’m grateful for the impact each one has had on my life and for the part they’ve played in this honor.

Culler arrived at Huntington in 1982 when she transferred in as a sophomore. The 6-0 forward racked up 1,307 career points during her three years in green and white and was the third women’s player to join Huntington’s 1,000-point club. She was a member of the 1984 NCCAA national championship basketball team and received NAIA Academic All-American and honorable mention All-American honors.

She became an assistant coach in 1985 while still a student but having used up her playing eligibility. Several games into the season she became the interim head coach and was named permanent head coach for the next season.

Culler was inducted into the Huntington University Hall of Fame in 2006 and was named the 2008 Huntington University Alumnus of the Year. She has served as athletic director at HU for 15 years.

Culler and the other inductees to the hall will be honored at the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame’s 18th annual Women’s Awards Banquet on April 27, 2019.

Eleven others will be inducted at the event, including Rod Fisher of Marion and Leslie Johnson of Fort Wayne Northrop.