No one has to tell Daryl Fimple about the history of Arkansas Tech University women’s basketball and the expectations that exist as a result of the achievements compiled by the Golden Suns over the past 49 seasons.
As an alumnus of Arkansas Tech, a former player for the Wonder Boys basketball program and a former student assistant coach with the Golden Suns basketball program, he has been a part of those championship moments.
He knows about the Golden Suns’ 1,125 wins…the 35 20-win seasons…the 26 regular season conference championships…the seven national tournament semifinal appearances…the four NCAA Division II Elite Eight berths…the 1999 NCAA Division II national finalists…the 1992 and 1993 NAIA national champions.
He also knows that it is not enough to simply win at Arkansas Tech. It’s important to win the Golden Suns’ way.
“The standard here has always been championships,” said Fimple. “We’re going to be enthusiastic. We’re going to have fun. We’re going to get degrees. We’re going to be in the community. We’re going to make an impact. The Golden Suns’ way is here to stay, and we’re just going to grow this thing and make it bigger.”
Fimple applied the lessons he learned from Arkansas Tech coaching legends Joe Foley and Marty Barnes to build his own championship culture within the girls’ basketball program at North Little Rock High School.
And now, after 668 wins and six state championships at the high school level, Fimple will write the next chapter in the story of one of the most successful programs in women’s college basketball history. He was introduced as the seventh head coach of the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns during a press conference on Wednesday, April 1.
“I’m here to serve them,” said Fimple when asked what his promise is to his players. “I’m a servant leader. I believe in that. We’re going to get kids in here who know how to win. We’re going to get kids from great programs with great coaches. We’re going to coach the heck out of them, but we’re going to love them more than anything else. We’re going to be involved in their lives…on the floor, in the classroom and in the community. You get all of me.”
Basketball runs deep in the Fimple household. His wife, Mandy, is a coach’s daughter. Daryl and Mandy started dating when they were students at Alma High School. They went to Arkansas Tech together, got married and have two daughters, Payten and Katie.
Fimple coached both of his daughters at North Little Rock, and he said that experience helped him fully understand the importance of his role.
“I’m coaching someone’s prize possession,” said Fimple. “I take that full-heartedly, and there’s a lot that goes into that. I’m not afraid to tell you that I love you. I think that’s a big word to use. I want them to invite me to their weddings. I want to stay involved in their lives. I think that’s what I’m supposed to do.”
Another priority Fimple has established is strengthening the ties that bind Golden Suns basketball with the women who have made it great over the past half-century.
“I think our alumni are extremely important,” said Fimple. “I’ve talked to I don’t know how many Golden Suns. I want them here. I want them in (Tucker Coliseum). They need to come watch practice. They need to talk to our kids. They need to help us recruit. This is a family atmosphere, and we’ll develop that every single day.
“It’s going to take all of us if we want to play on a national level,” continued Fimple. “It’s going to take a lot of support, and we have to get out there and earn it. We’re going to give everything we’ve got to win a national championship. That’s the only expectation I have.”
The 50th season of Golden Suns basketball begins in November.
Talk to you on the radio.
Tech Tidbits is a column written by Sam Strasner, ATU director of university relations and radio play-by-play voice for ATU football and basketball.
