Inductees

The Fast Break Club grew out of conversations, in the early 1980s, among business and professional women in Springfield, brought together by Dr. Mary Jo Wynn for the purpose of brainstorming ways to support the women’s athletic program at Missouri State University.

Challenged by University of Texas’ winning women’s basketball coach, Jody Conradt, in October of 1986, the group committed itself to the work and structure of an athletic booster club and the rest, as they say, is history.

The organization certainly helped to galvanize the Ozarks around Lady Bears basketball and took care of MSU volleyball and all other MSU women’s teams, too. And it’s why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly inducted the Fast Break Club with the Class of 2019.

“I remember Dr. Wynn got us together and said the women’s program needed some help,” said Barbara Lucks, an energetic business executive in Springfield. “Of course, we would have walked through fire for her. The persistence doesn’t even begin to explain (her passion). She kept pushing but gently.”

Wynn, a 2014 MSHOF Legend for her role as Senior Women’s Administrator at MSU and who passed away January 22, 2019, had been a coach herself in the athletic department.

Said Lucks, “She wanted us to be better than we were.”

At the time, the Lady Bears basketball program became a central focus. It was struggling, with a minimal fan base, no particularly loyal sponsors and sought more support from the administration of the athletic department.

The Fast Break Club went to work and, as a critical component in what would become a perfect storm of achievement, the Lady Bears took off like a rocket.

Led by an aggressive young coach in Cheryl Burnett (MSHOF Legend 2015) and a savvy, persistent administrator in Wynn, the work-obsessed team of talented and committed young women (over-achievers, all) the Lady Bears took the entire Springfield community on the ride of their lives.

The Fast Break Club functioned as emotional support, financial support and an effective offensive line – breaking down barriers and obstacles for the team, their coaches and the SMSU women’s program in general.

With their stated goal of “putting butts in the seats,” record crowds filled Hammons Student Center – including 9,194 on February 20, 1993 and 9,152 on December 8, 1993.

It was during that era when the arena’s blue backdrop curtains – those that blocked the empty bleachers on the mezzanine behind the goals – were raised because of overflow crowds. In fact, the Lady Bears ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division I women’s basketball attendance in 1992-1993 and fifth in both 1994-1995 and 1998-1999.

Programs in Power 5 conferences were calling asking for the blueprint.

“We gave away tickets initially with the thought if we could just get them there, they’d be hooked, because that’s what had happened to us,” Lucks said.

Along the way, the Fast Break Club sought out new sponsors that had not previously been a part of the athletic department, as a way not to encroach on support for men’s athletics. It also secured a pep band and cheerleaders for games, adding to the atmosphere.

“We started paying attention to how it was done in the big leagues,” Lucks said.

Special events were orchestrated to create more excitement. “The Classic Evening” banquet was the pre-season introduction to the Lady Bears, and Guest Master of Ceremonies included Pat Summit, Roy Williams and Robin Roberts.

Burnett’s teams delivered, nearly upsetting tradition-rich Tennessee in the 1991 NCAA Tournament, and then reached the program’s first Sweet Sixteen and Final Four in March 1992.

In Burnett’s 15 seasons at MSU (1987-2002) her teams won 319 out of 455 games – and enjoyed winning seasons in each of her final 13 seasons on campus. Her teams also reached the postseason 11 times, including 10 trips to the NCAA Tournament.

The Fast Break Club grew so well that it formed subcommittees. Some members dusted off their marketing and promotions skills to raise money for the program. Others contributed by cooking terrific meals for hospitality rooms, fundraisers and get-togethers for teams, cheerleaders and pep bands.

Additionally, Fast Break Club members expected women’s athletes to demonstrate scholastic excellence and exemplary graduation rates. And MSU athletes delivered, too.

What a run it was.

“You throw in Mary Jo’s leadership and Cheryl was just a pitbull – she was young and aggressive – and the basketball team had talent,” Lucks said. “It clicked. The community got behind us, and everything was just magical.”