Hall of Fame
A native of Hartley, Iowa, Baumgarten was the catalyst in the Bulldogs’ drive for national recognition in women’s basketball in the mid 1970s through the mid 1980s, Baumgarten ranks first among all-time Conference -- Gateway or MVC -- coaches winning percentage (.889) in terms of league play with a 48-6 record from 1983-86.
Baumgarten stands first among all-time Conference coaches winning percentage in terms of overall victories (since beginning of league play in 1982-83) at .752, compiling an 88-29 record from 1983-86.
During her tenure, she led DU to three NCAA Tournament appearances (1982, 1984 and 1986), which was a record at the time for any member of the Gateway Conference. She also guided Drake to five appearances in the WNIT (1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1985), finishing second in 1979.
Baumgarten had the Bulldogs ranked eight times in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll, including a high-water mark of No. 16 on March 27, 1982. Drake also was ranked in the top 25 six-straight weeks from March 7, 1982 to December 5, 1982.
The coach for five Wade Trophy finalists (Sharon Upshaw in 1979, Connie Newlin in 1982, Lorri Bauman in 1984 and Wanda Ford in 1985 and 1986), she also mentored a first-team Kodak All-American -- Ford -- in 1986.
During her tenure at Drake, she coached four College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-Americans (Connie Newlin in 1982, Jan Krieger in 1982, Laura Leonard in 1983 and Kay Riek in 1984).
The head coach of the first U.S. women’s basketball team ever to beat Russia in the Soviet Union, she received the lifetime service award from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association in 1996.
Baumgarten was named to the Des Moines Register Iowa Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.