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University of Houston Athletics
Curl Promotes Leadership, Service On and Off the Court
1/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 6, 2003
The University of Houston's head women's basketball coach Joe Curl was named the 2002 Staff Member of the Year by the Houston Alumni Organization. Coach Curl was honored for his outstanding support of Cougar athletics and service to the campus and community in his tenure at Houston.
As the Houston squads focuses on a trip to this year's NCAA Tournament, one thing remains constant -- the goal to mold the Lady Cougars into successful individuals both on and off the court. One way in which Curl believes this can be achieved is through campus and community service.
"We ask that every player commit at least 50 hours of community service every academic year," Curl said. "It seems like a lot to do, visiting hospitals and going to elementary schools to meet kids and sign autographs, but everyone loves it."
He and his team were seem throughout football season around campus and Robertson stadium on game days cooking hot dogs and involving themselves in Cougar spirit events.
Despite their mid-season success and preparations for Conference USA play in 2003, Curl and company still take time to reach out to their fans. Win or lose, the Lady Cougars take an hour after ever home game to sign autographs and talk to fans around Guy V. Lewis Court.
In 12 seasons as head coach at the collegiate level, Curl has compiled a record of 195-164 (.543). He joined the Lady Cougars in 1998 after two years as the men's coach at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas.
Curl earned a bachelor's degree from Wayne State in 1978 and a master's degree from the University of Central Oklahoma. An accomplished athlete in his own right, Curl lettered nine times in varsity high school sports, holds three records in track and was second in scoring and rebounding in the history of South Sioux City High School in his hometown of South Sioux City, Nebraska.
He and his wife, Lesa, have two daughters, Angela and Jennifer. Angela is in her fifth season as a member of the Lady Cougar team while Jennifer is a sophomore at UH and one of the Lady Cougars' team managers this season.
Under Curl's direction, the women's basketball team has undergone a complete change to bring success back to the program. The Lady Cougars ended the 2001-02 season as the Women's NIT runner-up.
