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Could a third straight be in the cards?

Gunnare's good fortune is built on preparation, work ethic

Dwight Gunnare considers himself a lucky man. He chose a profession where he gets excited every day going to work.

Gunnare enters his 21st season as a varsity head coach, his fourth at Casper College. He is just as driven as ever; not very many people beat him to work in the morning. "I was as excited about our first scrimmage this fall as I was for a state championship game," he says.

That just about sums up the Thunderbird head coach. He is energetic, driven and detailed. Gunnare's system throws a lot at his players, but his players throw a lot at their opponents.

His three Thunderbird teams have won 84 games and two Region IX championships since his arrival. That came as no surprise to those who followed his career in Montana, where his high school teams at Colstrip compiled a 175-87 record in 11 seasons (and won a pair of state championships). He followed that up with a stint at Miles Community College. In six seasons there his Pioneers won 185 games in six seasons (.717 winning percentage). In his final season ('07-'08), Miles posted a 31-2 record and lost in the Region IX tournament finals to Western Nebraska.

He has two regional Coach of the Year plaques since arriving in Casper. Following his 2010 team's run to the NJCAA Final Four, Gunnare was honored by the Chamber of Commerce as Casper's Coach of the Year.

His teams have met standards off the court, too. Twice the Thunderbirds have earned academic All America team honors.

When asked about what makes his program so successful, Gunnare points to two things: hard work and good fortune.

"When I began at the high school level, I studied and I prepared," Gunnare says, admitting that not many coaches logged the miles he did. "I always felt it was important to have a good understanding of the opponent."

He would drive hours and hours scouting teams and watching games to gain that understanding. He still does that.

He expects that same hard work ethic out of his team. And after three seasons, the players know that. "You start at the beginning and you build a foundation," he says. "Then you start putting bricks on it. Expectations are evident by now."

The fortune Gunnare refers to is all about family and surrounding himself with good people. "I have been so fortunate to have worked with great athletes," Gunnare says. "We had quite a run in Colstrip at a time when that community had some great groups of kids. Later on I have always had excellent support and great assistant coaches. The common thread is the support I have been given."

Real students of the game will notice a couple of things about Gunnare's teams. First, they will always be ready by tournament time. That is due in part to how much he expects out of his team. He installs a lot of looks, and by season's end the Thunderbirds can show them all and generally play at any tempo.

Gunnare also believes in defense. His teams have been among the regional leaders in points allowed and field goal percentage all three years.

And there is that preparation element. He will always have his teams prepared for their opponent. "I try not to expect more than my players are capable of and I will always try to treat them with respect. It starts with communicating expectations and keeping an open dialog with my players."

Gunnare finds his team back in the preseason Top Twenty rankings this year. That's a testament to what other coaches think about Gunnare's program.

Is a three-peat in order? You can bet Gunnare will have his team prepared.

Dwight Gunnare
Head Coach

307-268-2627

Dwight Gunnare is used to encore performances.

Win a championship and everybody expects you to do it again. While most people don't stop to think about what it takes, that's OK with Gunnare. Not long after his Thunderbirds pelted the record books with a stellar 33-5 season in '09-'10, he was hard at the task of doing it again.

From that standpoint, the fire still rages for Gunnare, who enters his third season on the hill and his 29th as a head basketball coach. Blame that competitive fire on the fact that championships seem to follow this Thunderbird coach. He won them in the high school ranks in Montana; he did it at Miles Community College and he has done it here.

A native of South Dakota and a graduate of Black Hills University, Gunnare began his coaching career at Colstrip High School. His teams there compiled an overall mark of 175-87 in 11 seasons and hung two state championship banners. Gunnare was twice named the Montana State "A" Coach of the Year and in 2000 received the National Federation Coaches Association Award for the state of Montana in girls' basketball.

At Miles, his teams won 185 games in six seasons (.717 winning percentage). In '07-'08 the Pioneers posted a 31-2 record, losing out in the regional finals to Western Nebraska. His peers named him Region IX Coach of the Year.

Since arriving here from Miles in 2008, Gunnare's teams have won 59 games in two seasons. Last year, Gunnare earned Wyoming Conference and Region IX Coach of the Year honors after his Thunderbirds grabbed the regional championship trophy on the road at Sterling, Colo. After his team's run to the Final Four in the national tournament, the Chamber of Commerce honored him as Casper's Coach of the Year.

Both of his teams have received Academic All America honors from the NJCAA.

Gunnare's nature is not to dwell in the past, however. Not long after last year's historic season, Gunnare was charging ahead. Some would call him driven; those close by know that his attention to detail and his focus to the task ahead is a real attribute and a big part of his success.

Ask Gunnare to describe his formula and he will talk about teaching. Education has always been a big part of his professional life. He still teaches classes for the physical education department here. And every day he is teaching in practice.

"Where we try to be successful is in teaching and helping our teams grow and play together," Gunnare says. "We try to help them understand that playing together you can accomplish so much more. That's a lot of work, actually."

Indeed. Almost all of the players who arrive at a college program have been the stars of their high school teams. Gunnare seems to have a knack for helping them settle into productive roles. His rosters are deep and the players get minutes.

Opponents can vouch for something else. Gunnare's teams are prepared. He believes in evaluation, preparation and a lot of attention to detail.

Gunnare readily admits that he asks his players to learn a lot. But by season's end the Thunderbirds can throw a lot of looks at the enemy. "I'm intense with a high level of epectation," he says. "I try not to expect more than my players are capable of and I will always try to treat them with respect." Gunnare says he strives for "consistency and communication" in his program.

With that kind of philosophy and preparation, coupled with a proven track record, it is no wonder the Thunderbirds are in the preseason Top 5 rankings and among the favorites again in Region IX.

Matt Vega
Assistant Coach

(307) 268-3091

Matt enters his third season as Dwight Gunnare’s assistant. He brings a great passion for the game with him from Rawlins, where he was an outstanding prep player. Matt was twice all-state and three times all conference for the Outlaws. For two straight seasons he was Team Captain and team MVP. He led RHS to a state championship his senior season. He played on the Wyoming All Star team and was named to Who’s Who in High School Sports.

Along with his Assistant Coaching duties, Matt is the Recruiting Coordinator for the Lady T-Birds. He also serves as head of Strength and Conditioning for the basketball team. He is also in charge of updating the athletic website.

Matt has attended camps at the Arizona, Kentucky, Wyoming, Colorado State and Georgetown, and has worked with many college coaches including Lute Olson, Stew Morril, Joby Wright and Steve McClain.

Matt has a son Isaiah, 9.

Bill Landen
Athletic Director

(307) 268-2667

Bill Landen took over as athletic director six years ago, but he is not new to those who have been around Casper College and its athletic programs.

Bill has spent the past 26 years at Casper College. Prior to accepting his current role, Bill served as Director of College Relations for 18 years.

Since his arrival in the athletic department, his focus has been on community and student involvement in the college’s four sports programs. Bill has worked with the T-Bird Booster Club and the Foundation to establish a permanent endowment for athletics. He has also been instrumental in support of the college's rodeo program.

T-Bird fans may recognize Bill from his days as the radio play-by-play voice of the T-Birds in the 1980s and ‘90s. Along with serving as the voice of the T-Birds, Bill spent 18 years in marketing and information for the college. He has earned numerous awards during his professional career, including twice being named Wyoming’s Sportswriter of the Year by the national association of sportswriters and sportscasters. He was named Rosenthal Outstanding Administrator at Casper College in 1997. In 1993 he was honored by his peers as Communicator of the Year by the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations.

Along with his duties at Casper College, Bill serves in the Wyoming Legislature as State Senator for District 27.

Bill’s wife, Robyn, is the Director of Financial Services/Controller for Casper College. They have three children: Nick, Zack and Hailey.

• 2011-2012 Seasun Statistics
• 2010-2011 Season Statistics
• 2009-2010 Season Statistics
• 2008-2009 Season Statistics
• 2007-2008 Final Season Stats
• 2006-2007 Final Season Stats
• Review the rich history of Women's Athletics

A Few Lady T-Bird Program Facts (1976 - 2011)

Overall Record: 711-356
9 National Tournament Appearances
9 Region IX Championships
19 NJCAA All-Americans
12 Distinguished Academic All-Americans
42 All-Region IX Players
39 Division I Transfers
28 Division II Transfers

Recent Lady T-Bird Signings

2012 Rosalie Cutri: Boise State University
2012 KeArrow Jenkings: South Carolina Upstate
2012 Madara Gulbe: Texas A & M University - Kingsville

2011Lindsey Fearing: University of Arizona
2011 Sherece Huddlin: University of Nebraska-Omaha
2011Marlianne Louzeiro: Pittsburg State-Kansas

2010 Julianna Paunovic: Rutgers University
2010 Samira Van Grinsven: St. Joes University
2010 Kerstin Minchow: Western State College of Colorado
2010 Shanice Billington: Cal Baptist University

2009 Josie Stewart: Cameron University
2009 Emily Elliot: Northern Colorado

More About the Programs:
Casper College has a national reputation for excellence in many academic programs. Business, music, nursing, art, theater and radiography are among the programs with national accreditations. Casper College is also noted for the strong and varied science programs. Students who complete their academic work at Casper College transfer to universities thought the county. For students not intending to pursue a four-year degree, Casper College offers more the 30 career and technical programs like automotive technology, diesel power, electronics, welding and machine tool technology. These programs are designed to prepare students for the technical workplace.

More About the Campus:
Casper College overlooks the city from the south. Beautiful red-rock terraces surround the campus. The Gertrude Krampert Theatre is a popular attraction for the community. The Goodstein Foundation Library is one of the finest of its kind in the Rocky Mountain Region. There is also a modern student center on campus, three residence halls and a fitness center.