History of T-Bird Basketball
By William R. Landen
Coach Mike Sedar, for whom a park is now named in Casper, coached for ten years and won 129 games. In 1958, Swede Erickson left his football coaching duties at Natrona High School and took over the T-Birds, who now played their games in the brand new Administration Gymnasium. The T-Birds finished below .500 in three of their first four seasons under Erickson. One of his players, LeRoy Strausner, later became President of Casper College. The T-Birds were competitive but not outstanding. After that, T-Bird fortunes would change dramatically.
A player by the name of Flynn Robinson happened along, and led Casper College to its first appearance in the national tournament in 1963. Robinson, who would later star for many years in the National Basketball Association, shot the ball from behind his head, but more importantly with deadly long-range accuracy. “If we had had the 3-point line back then, nobody would have broker his record,” Erickson once said. Robinson was so good as a freshman that the University of Wyoming took him for his sophomore year (something that didn’t sit very well with Erickson).
Ed Samelton, Ralph Brisker, Bob Lackey and Abe Steward would lead the T-Birds back to Hutchinson een times in the following ten seasons. Lackey was probably the most famous T-Bird going on to a great career with Marquette and in the NBA. Steward taught at Casper College. Gerald Mattinson, a coach in Rock Springs, and Tony Martin were All Americans who came along later to carry the banner.
Erickson, of course, went on to become a legend of sorts in Casper and Wyoming before his retirement in 1986. He won 638 games by the time he hung up his whistle. He made his mark on the game not just regionally, but nationally and internationally as well. He became president of the National Junior College Athletic Association, and served on the United States Olympic Committee. Later, he was voted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame. Hardly a high school or college anywhere did not know “Swede.”
Pat Rafferty, a native of Buffalo, John Morrison and Ed Toohey have followed Erickson’s lead, and two more regional championship banners have been hoisted.
In the meantime, women’s basketball came on the scene in 1971. Much of the credit for its arrival goes to Jean Wheatley, physical education instructor who later became athletic director after Erickson’s departure. Her enthusiasm and energy were infectious. In all, there have been right women’s coaches, beginning with Wheatley. While there were successes in the 70s and 80s, it wasn’t until the 1986-87 season that the women T-Birds equaled their men counterparts in national prominence. Abe Steward took his team to the national tournament that year.
In 1989, Gary Becker arrived, and women’s basketball took another giant step. Casper College, under his direction, has won an average 23 games per year and made two more appearances in the national tournament. Along the way, Becker has had five Distinguished Academic All Americans. In 1995, his team was nominated for national academic team honors, a first.
Through all those 50 years, one thing has been a constant: year in and year out, Casper College has hit the hardwood with a powerful contingent. Casper College T-Bird men brought home the Region IX championship and seven runner-up titles since 1995. The women T-Birds brought home six runner-up titles and six regional titles since that time.
Shaun Gutting became the college’s fourteenth men’s basketball coach in 2019. The T-Birds went 25 and 6 in his first season and an appearance in the NJCAA Region IX tournament.
2019-20 marked Dwight Gunnare’s thirteenth season at Casper College and his 38th season overall. He has coached the women T-Birds to four Region IX championships and over the course of his career has received twenty-one coach-of-the-year recognitions. He was inducted into the Black Hills State University Coaching Hall of Fame in 2015. Coach Gunnare’s winning record proves he’s building leaders on and off the court.
| Coach
|
Years
|
W
|
L
|
Pct
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bill Hileman |
1945-1946 |
0 |
2 |
.000 |
|
Walter Dowler |
1946-1947 |
21 |
6 |
.778 |
|
Joe Schwartz |
1947-1948 |
16 |
11 |
.593 |
|
Mike Sedar |
1948-1958 |
129 |
96 |
.533 |
|
Swede Erickson |
1958-1986 |
638 |
220 |
.743 |
|
Pat Rafferty |
1986-1988 |
47 |
23 |
.671 |
|
John Morrison |
1988-1993 |
98 |
68 |
.590 |
|
Ed Toohey |
1993-2003 |
177 |
140 |
.551 |
|
Bill Johnson |
2003-2004 |
18 |
12 |
.600 |
|
Doug Stewart |
2004-2006 |
20 |
39 |
.339 |
|
Gary Becker |
2006-2008 |
40 |
26 |
.606 |
|
Joel Davidson |
2008-2012 |
110 |
54 |
.671 |
|
Dan Russell |
2013-2018 |
145 |
52 |
.736 |
|
Shaun Gutting |
2019-2021 |
38 |
14 |
.731 |
|
Totals |
1945-2021 |
1,497 |
763 |
.662 |
| Year
|
Champion
|
Runner-up
|
|---|---|---|
|
1962 |
Trinidad State (6th) |
Northeastern Junior College |
|
1963 |
Casper College (3rd) |
Northeastern Junior College |
|
1964 |
Casper College (2nd) |
Northwest Wyoming |
|
1965 |
Northeastern JC (4th) |
Northwest Wyoming |
|
1966 |
Casper College (11th) |
Northwest Wyoming |
|
1967 |
Northwest Wyoming |
Lamar College |
|
1968 |
Northeastern JC (4th) |
Lamar College |
|
1969 |
Northwest Wyoming |
Lamar College |
|
1970 |
Casper College (4th) |
Trinidad State |
|
1971 |
Casper College (5th) |
Northeastern Junior College |
|
1972 |
Casper College (7th) |
Trinidad State |
|
1973 |
CC – Platte, Nebraska (12th) |
Casper College |
|
1974 |
Northeastern JC (8th) |
CC – Platte, Nebraska |
|
1975 |
Sheridan College (12th) |
Western Wyoming |
|
1976 |
Casper College (10th) |
Southeast Nebraska |
|
1977 |
Sheridan College (10th) |
Casper College |
|
1978 |
Casper College (5th) |
Trinidad State |
|
1979 |
Western Nebraska (12th) |
Dawson College |
|
1980 |
Northeastern JC (12th) |
Casper College |
|
1981 |
Western Nebraska (15th) |
Southeast Nebraska |
|
1982 |
Southeast Nebraska (3rd) |
Western Nebraska |
|
1983 |
Northeastern JC (8th) |
Sheridan College |
|
1984 |
Northeastern JC (9th) |
Sheridan College |
|
1985 |
Casper College (14th) |
Laramie County |
|
1986 |
Trinidad State (8th) |
Southeast Nebraska |
|
1987 |
Laramie County |
Northwest Wyoming |
|
1988 |
Casper College (6th) |
Trinidad State |
|
1989 |
Eastern Wyoming (14th) |
Sheridan College |
|
1990 |
Western Nebraska (12th) |
Casper College |
|
1991 |
Eastern Wyoming |
Trinidad State |
|
1992 |
Casper College (11th) |
Eastern Wyoming |
|
1993 |
Western Nebraska |
Eastern Wyoming |
|
1994 |
Western Nebraska (7th) |
Mid-Plains College |
|
1995 |
Western Nebraska (3rd) |
Casper College |
|
1996 |
Casper College (12th) |
Western Nebraska |
|
1997 |
Western Nebraska (14th) |
McCook |
|
1998 |
Western Nebraska (14th) |
Casper College |
|
1999 |
Western Nebraska (7th) |
Casper College |
|
2000 |
Northeastern JC (7th) |
Western Nebraska |
|
2001 |
Western Nebraska (14th) |
Northeast Nebraska |
|
2002 |
Sheridan College (14th) |
Eastern Wyoming |
|
2003 |
Western Nebraska (14th) |
Eastern Wyoming |
|
2004 |
Eastern Wyoming (8th) |
Dawson College |
|
2005 |
Northeastern JC (14th) |
Eastern Wyoming |
|
2006 |
Sheridan College (14th) |
Northeastern Junior College |
|
2007 |
Northeastern Junior College |
Casper College |
|
2008 |
Eastern Wyoming (14th) |
Northeastern Junior College |
|
2009 |
Lamar (5th) |
North Platte |
|
2010 |
North Platte (11th) |
Sheridan College |
|
2011 |
Western Wyoming (7th) |
Sheridan College |
|
2012 |
Otero College (5th) |
Casper College |
|
2013 |
North Platte |
Otero JC |
|
2014 |
Northeastern Junior College |
Gillette College |
|
2015 |
Northwest College |
Gillette College |
|
2016 |
Gillette College |
Casper College |
|
2017 |
Gillette College |
Laramie County |
|
2018 |
Western Nebraska |
Otero JC |
|
2019 |
Casper College |
Sheridan College |
|
2020 |
Western Wyoming |
Northeastern Junior College |
|
2021 |
Northeastern Junior College | McCook Community College |
| Year
|
W
|
L
|
|---|---|---|
|
1947-48 |
16 |
11 |
|
1948-49 |
10 |
10 |
|
1949-50 |
22 |
9 |
|
1950-51 |
19 |
7 |
|
1951-52 |
12 |
10 |
|
1952-53 |
18 |
7 |
|
1953-54 |
7 |
11 |
|
1954-55 |
9 |
13 |
|
1955-56 |
16 |
8 |
|
1956-57 |
8 |
11 |
|
1957-58 |
8 |
10 |
|
1958-59 |
7 |
13 |
|
1959-60 |
9 |
13 |
|
1960-61 |
21 |
4 |
|
1961-62 |
12 |
14 |
|
1962-63 |
26 |
5 |
|
1963-64 |
24 |
6 |
|
1964-65 |
20 |
7 |
|
1965-66 |
24 |
9 |
|
1966-67 |
14 |
14 |
|
1967-68 |
12 |
15 |
|
1968-69 |
22 |
4 |
|
1969-70 |
32 |
3 |
|
1970-71 |
30 |
4 |
|
1971-72 |
30 |
4 |
|
1972-73 |
24 |
4 |
|
1973-74 |
21 |
9 |
|
1974-75 |
25 |
10 |
|
1975-76 |
28 |
9 |
|
1976-77 |
29 |
5 |
|
1977-78 |
36 |
4 |
|
1978-79 |
22 |
11 |
|
1979-80 |
28 |
6 |
|
1980-81 |
20 |
12 |
|
1981-82 |
26 |
9 |
|
1982-83 |
27 |
6 |
|
1983-84 |
16 |
11 |
|
1984-85 |
30 |
9 |
|
1985-86 |
21 |
10 |
|
1986-87 |
17 |
15 |
|
1987-88 |
30 |
8 |
|
1988-89 |
15 |
17 |
|
1989-90 |
22 |
13 |
|
1990-91 |
25 |
7 |
|
1991-92 |
25 |
11 |
|
1992-93 |
11 |
20 |
|
1993-94 |
14 |
16 |
|
1994-95 |
16 |
15 |
|
1995-96 |
30 |
6 |
|
1996-97 |
18 |
12 |
|
1997-98 |
20 |
13 |
|
1998-99 |
22 |
10 |
|
1999-00 |
19 |
12 |
|
2000-01 |
18 |
14 |
|
2001-02 |
9 |
21 |
|
2002-03 |
11 |
21 |
|
2003-04 |
18 |
11 |
|
2004-05 |
11 |
20 |
|
2005-06 |
10 |
20 |
|
2006-07 |
20 |
14 |
|
2007-08 |
20 |
12 |
|
2008-09 |
13 |
19 |
|
2009-10 |
24 |
9 |
|
2010-11 |
24 |
9 |
|
2011-12 |
25 |
9 |
|
2012-13 |
24 |
8 |
|
2013-14 |
20 |
12 |
|
2014-15 |
22 |
9 |
|
2015-16 |
25 |
9 |
|
2016-17 |
24 |
9 |
|
2017-18 |
22 |
10 |
|
2018-19 |
32 |
3 |
|
2019-20 |
25 |
6 |
|
2020-21 |
13 |
8 |
| Coach
|
Years
|
W
|
L
|
Pct
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Jean Wheatley |
1972-1973 |
9 |
1 |
.900 |
|
Kathy DeSmith |
1973-1976 |
31 |
15 |
.674 |
|
Lynn Reynolds |
1976-1977 |
7 |
10 |
.412 |
|
Bobby Hilke |
1977-1979 |
22 |
15 |
.594 |
|
Sharon Hoffman |
1979-1981 |
20 |
22 |
.476 |
|
Karen Johnson |
1981-1985 |
32 |
63 |
.337 |
|
Abe Steward |
1985-1989 |
79 |
38 |
.675 |
|
Gary Becker |
1989-2003 |
328 |
104 |
.759 |
|
Angelo Hill |
2003-2008 |
102 |
67 |
.604 |
|
Dwight Gunnare |
2009-2020 |
340 |
82 |
.806 |
|
Totals |
1972-2020 |
970 |
417 |
.699 |
| Year
|
Champion
|
Runner-up
|
|---|---|---|
|
1977 |
Northeast Neb. |
Northeastern Colo. |
|
1978 |
Eastern Wyo. |
Northeastern Colo. |
|
1979 |
Eastern Wyo. |
Casper College |
|
1980 |
Western Wyo. |
McCook |
|
1981 |
Western Wyo. |
McCook |
|
1982 |
Central Wyo. |
Northeastern Colo. |
|
1983 |
Northeastern Colo. |
Otero JC |
|
1984 |
Central Wyo. |
Northwest Wyo. |
|
1985 |
Central Wyo. |
Southeast Neb. |
|
1986 |
Central Wyo. |
Casper College |
|
1987 |
Casper College (9th) |
Western Wyo. |
|
1988 |
Miles CC, Mont. |
Northeast Neb. |
|
1989 |
Miles CC, Mont. |
Sheridan College |
|
1990 |
Miles CC, Mont. |
Northwest Wyo. |
|
1991 |
Sheridan College |
Western Neb. |
|
1992 |
Casper College (7th) |
Western Neb. |
|
1993 |
Western Neb. |
Casper College |
|
1994 |
Casper College (12th) |
Western Neb. |
|
1995 |
Western Neb. |
Casper College |
|
1996 |
Casper College (3rd) |
Western Neb. |
|
1997 |
Casper College (7th) |
Western Neb. |
|
1998 |
Western Neb. (4th) |
Sheridan College |
|
1999 |
Sheridan College (7th) |
Western Neb. |
|
2000 |
Casper College (9th) |
Western Neb. |
|
2001 |
Western Neb. (12th) |
Northeast Neb. |
|
2002 |
Northeastern Colo. (12th) |
Casper College |
|
2003 |
Western Neb. (12th) |
Casper College |
|
2004 |
Western Neb. (4th) |
Otero JC |
|
2005 |
Western Neb. |
Casper College |
|
2006 |
Western Neb. (8th) |
Casper College |
|
2007 |
Casper College (12th) |
Western Neb. |
|
2008 |
Western Neb. (8th) |
Miles CC |
|
2009 |
Sheridan College (12th) |
Northeastern JC |
|
2010 |
Casper College (4th) |
Otero JC |
|
2011 |
Casper College (9th) |
Otero JC |
|
2012 |
Otero JC |
Northeastern JC |
|
2013 |
Western Nebraska |
Gillette College |
|
2014 |
Western Nebraska |
Western Wyoming |
|
2015 |
Western Nebraska |
Northeastern JC |
|
2016 |
Gillette Casper |
College |
|
2017 |
Western Nebraska |
Eastern Wyoming |
|
2018 |
Casper College |
Western Nebraska |
|
2019 |
Western Nebraska |
Casper College |
|
2020 |
Casper College |
Western Nebraska |
|
2021 |
Otero Junior College | Casper College |
| Year
|
W
|
L
|
|---|---|---|
|
Before 76 |
40 |
16 |
|
1976-77 |
7 |
10 |
|
1977-78 |
8 |
9 |
|
1978-79 |
14 |
6 |
|
1979-80 |
10 |
10 |
|
1980-81 |
10 |
12 |
|
1981-82 |
5 |
17 |
|
1982-83 |
14 |
9 |
|
1983-84 |
7 |
17 |
|
1984-85 |
6 |
20 |
|
1985-86 |
25 |
7 |
|
1986-87 |
27 |
5 |
|
1987-88 |
18 |
10 |
|
1988-89 |
9 |
16 |
|
1989-90 |
13 |
13 |
|
1990-91 |
23 |
5 |
|
1991-92 |
33 |
2 |
|
1992-93 |
25 |
2 |
|
1993-94 |
26 |
6 |
|
1994-95 |
20 |
6 |
|
1995-96 |
28 |
6 |
|
1996-97 |
32 |
4 |
|
1997-98 |
19 |
9 |
|
1998-99 |
21 |
11 |
|
1999-00 |
21 |
13 |
|
2000-01 |
17 |
12 |
|
2001-02 |
27 |
5 |
|
2002-03 |
23 |
10 |
|
2003-04 |
19 |
14 |
|
2004-05 |
16 |
19 |
|
2005-06 |
21 |
13 |
|
2006-07 |
26 |
9 |
|
2007-08 |
20 |
12 |
|
2008-09 |
26 |
7 |
|
2009-10 |
33 |
5 |
|
2010-11 |
25 |
11 |
|
2011-12 |
30 |
3 |
|
2012-13 |
24 |
8 |
|
2013-14 |
21 |
11 |
|
2014-15 |
22 |
9 |
|
2015-16 |
28 |
5 |
|
2016-17 |
22 |
9 |
|
2017-18 |
31 |
3 |
|
2018-19 |
27 |
7 |
|
2019-20 |
29 | 3 |
|
2020-21 |
22 | 2 |