Originally Story from January 16, 2008
Kelli Litsch won championships, set records and brought bright new spotlight to women's basketball across the state during her remarkable playing career first at Thomas High School and then later at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. She became the first NAIA player (in any sport) to be selected as a first team All-American four consecutive years. She ended her magical run at SWOSU on teams that combined for a 129-5 record and as the NAIA all-time record holder in points with 2,700.
Tonight, SWOSU is honoring Litsch by naming the basketball court in her honor.
As a freshman, she led SWOSU to the 1982 NAIA championship and an undefeated 34-0 season. She was named tournament MVP and scored 18 points in an 80-45 walkover over Missouri Southern in the championship game. More NAIA championships followed in 1983 and again in 1985. Her final shot was the game-winner in a 55-54 victory over an unbeaten Saginaw Valley State team.
After graduating with a perfect 4.0 grade point average, she joined the women's basketball team as an assistant coach under John Loftin and helped the Bulldogs to two more NAIA titles, their fourth and fifth in 1987 and 1990.
Litsch traded in her coach's whistle in 1995 after 10 years on the bench. She now concentrates on the administrative end where she serves as associate athletic director in charge of compliance.
She remains as a diligent champion for all student athletes, male and female, and serves in numerous roles at SWOSU. Some of those include acting as the Title IX Officer, Senior Women's Administrator and Adviser to the Student Athlete Advisory Council.
The scope of her work is not limited to SWOSU but extends throughout the region and beyond. She has served on the Lone Conference Strategic Planning Committee and recently completed a four-year term on the NCAA Nominating Committee.
She has been inducted into four Hall of Fames: SWOSU Athletic Hall of Fame 1990, NAIA Hall of Fame 1991, Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame 2004, Women's National Basketball Hall of Fame 2005.
Litsch's phenomenal playing career will be forever etched in the memories of those who watched her. Now her name will be etched permanently in the SWOSU basketball floor for the next generation to remember and honor.
