Hall of Fame
Former Southern Illinois women’s basketball head coach Cindy Scott posted a 388-215 (.643) record during her 21 years at the helm of the program between 1977-98. Scott’s winning percentage of .698 (353-153) during her league tenure (1983-98) ranks fourth-best all-time in league history. While her 353 total wins during that span make her the winningest women’s basketball coach in league history.
Scott’s teams won three Conference titles (1986, 1987 and 1990) and finished second on seven other occasions. She twice earned Conference Coach of the Year honors (1986 and 1987).
With Scott at the helm, Southern Illinois earned four NCAA Tournament berths, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 1987, while the team was ranked as high as No. 15 in the nation in 1986 and No. 13 in 1987.
Scott led her teams to undefeated Conference seasons in 1986 and 1987, posting 18-0 marks, while the program won 37-straight conference games from March 6, 1985 to Feb. 26, 1987. The 23-consecutive victories during the 1985-86 season established a school record, while the team also won 26-straight home games from Dec. 7, 1985 to Dec. 12, 1987.
She recorded a 119-25 (.826) Gateway Conference mark and 199-67 (.748) MVC record while guiding the Salukis to eight 20-win seasons, and the program enjoyed a streak of 15-consecutive winning seasons with Scott as head coach.
Following her 21 seasons as SIU’s head women’s basketball coach, Scott spent more than two decades as an assistant director of athletics at Bentley University in Waltham, Mass., and retired in July 2020.
She received her Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Memphis in 1975 and her Master of Science in Education from Southern Illinois University in 1976. She is a 1994 inductee into the SIU Hall of Fame.