Former Wittenberg coach Larry Hunter hospitalized after stroke

Hunter retired earlier this year after 13 seasons at Western Carolina
of the Louisville Cardinals during the game against the Western Carolina Catamounts on December 12, 2009 at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky.

Credit: Andy Lyons

Credit: Andy Lyons

of the Louisville Cardinals during the game against the Western Carolina Catamounts on December 12, 2009 at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky.

Former Wittenberg University men's basketball coach Larry Hunter has been hospitalized after suffering a stroke, Western Carolina University announced Monday. ESPN's Seth Greenberg reported Hunter, 68, is on life support.

“The continued thoughts, prayers and well wishes of the Catamount Nation are with Larry Hunter and his wife, Mary, during this trying time,” read a statement by Western Carolina. “It is requested that we continue to respect the family's wishes for privacy.

Hunter retired in March after 13 seasons at Western Carolina. He was an assistant coach at Wittenberg from 1973-76 and the head coach from 1976-89. His record at Wittenberg was 305-76.

Hunter won the Division III national championship in 1977 in his first season as head coach. He was the first coach in NCAA history to win a national title in his first season. Hunter was inducted into Wittenberg’s Hall of Honor in 1996.

Hunter moved from Wittenberg to Ohio University in the 1989-90 season and coached the Ohio Bobcats until 2001. His career record at Ohio and Western Carolina was 397-377. In all, he won 702 games in his coaching career.

Hunter has remained close to Wittenberg’s program over the years and wrote a letter in support of the men’s basketball endowment several years ago.

“My sixteen years at Wittenberg remain the highlight of my coaching career,” Hunter wrote. “Hardly a day goes by that I do not count my blessings for the experience and opportunity that Wittenberg provided.”

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