EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball Assistant Coach Randa Gatling ’99 has been selected as one of the “Top 20 Women in Business” Class of 2021, which is presented by the Junior League of Evansville and sponsored by News 4 U and Legence Bank.
Nominees for this honor were selected from a large pool and must be 18 years old or over and live or work in Warrick, Gibson, Vanderburgh, Posey, Pike, Dubois, Spencer, Union, Webster, McLean or Davies counties. The nominees were then rated based on the following criteria: Demonstration of volunteerism in the community, innovation in her profession, mentors others within her profession and contributes to her business community.
Gatling was selected based on those qualities as she has been an “innovative servant leader and makes the Tri-State area a better community.”
“Randa is very deserving of this honor,” USI Director of Athletics Jon Mark Hall said. “She cares deeply about this community, our wonderful institution and treats people of all different backgrounds the same way, with compassion. I am happy to be associated with her and am excited that she is receiving this recognition.”
USI Women’s Basketball Head Coach Rick Stein said “words can’t describe how proud we are of her and just how deserving she is of this award. She has been a true leader on our campus and in the Evansville community for years and has poured her heart and soul into USI, USI Women’s Basketball and into her hometown of Evansville, Indiana!
“When Randa was a player, she was always first in line to volunteer on campus and in the community,” Stein continued. “She has carried that over into her professional life and has made sure that our team is always first in line to help others whenever possible. She has spent the last 22 years helping prepare all of our young women to succeed in whatever path they choose after USI.”
One of the top assistant coaches in Division II and the longest tenured assistant women’s basketball coach in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, Gatling is entering her 23rd season on the Screaming Eagles’ sideline.
Her work on the bench during the previous 22 seasons has paid off in the form of seven NCAA II Tournament appearances along with a regional championship, a GLVC regular-season championship and two GLVC Tournament titles. Gatling also has had a hand in the recruitment and development of three All-Americans, an Academic All-American, seven All-Region honorees and 25 All-GLVC performers.
Gatling has been a major part of USI’s success throughout the years, both as a player and as a coach. She has been a part of 488 victories, 388 as a coach and 100 as a player. In addition, Gatling has been a part of 11 NCAA II Tournament teams, two NCAA II Elite Eight squads, and five GLVC championship teams.
During her playing days at USI, Gatling was a member of the 1997 NCAA Division II national finalist team, which was inducted into the USI Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012. Her play helped the Eagles to NCAA II Tournament appearances in 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998 as well as GLVC championships in 1995, 1997, and 1998. She was the team captain in 1997-98.
The Eagles were a dominating 100-16 (.862), including an amazing 67-9 (.881) in the GLVC, during Gatling’s four years in an Eagle uniform.
Gatling will be honored by the Junior League of Evansville during the Women’s Conference’s Luncheon November 4 at the Old National Event Plaza.
