Mulerider Athletics mourns loss of Dr. Ginger Hurst

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas University and Mulerider Athletics are deeply saddened by the loss of 2008 Hall of Fame inductee, Dr. Ginger Hurst, who passed away on Tuesday, March 19. She was 73. Services are pending with Lewis Funeral of Magnolia. The SAU flag will fly at half-staff on the day of interment.

Dr. Ginger Hurst enjoyed a highly impactful career as an educator, professor and coach at Southern Arkansas University. She served as an associate professor of health, kinesiology and recreation, and as a member of the SAU Graduate Studies faculty. Following her teaching and coaching career at SAU, Hurst served as a member of the SAU Sports Hall of Fame advisory committee where she participated as a key advocate for numerous SAU female athletes.

Dr. Hurst coached volleyball at Southern Arkansas University for 13 years (1977-89) and was named Arkansas Intercollegiate Coach (AIC) of the Year in 1988. Hurst-led teams finished first or second in the AIC seven of the last nine seasons of her career. She coached the 1982 team to an unbeaten Arkansas Women's Intercollegiate Sports Association (AWISA) championship (14-0), and an overall record of 21-5 in that league's final season before the move to the AIC. Hurst led SAU to back-to-back AIC titles in 1988 and 1989. Under her guidance, the Riderettes accumulated a record of 223-110 with the 1989 team recording a school record 42-4 mark in her final season as head coach.

During her volleyball tenure at Southern Arkansas, Hurst coached 10 All-AWISA, 18 All-AIC, and 15 All-NAIA District 17 selections. She also signed Tracy Morgan, who was a 1989 All-AIC and All-District pick, and the District 17 Player of the Year, who would go on to be an honorable mention All-America selection in her senior season of 1991.

Hurst's leadership both on and off the court helped the Riderettes make a successful transition from the AWISA to the AIC. She was the last elected AWISA president before the merging with the AIC.

Hurst coached women's tennis at SAU from 1978-1985, winning 36 matches over her eight seasons. In 1983, Hurst saw a pair of players win both the AIC singles and doubles championships, with Leanne Johnson taking the singles title and Johnson and Shelly Grim claiming the doubles crown. Both were All-AIC and All-District 17 selections, and Terri Toland was also an All-District pick. In 1984 Grim and Toland were both All-AIC and All-NAIA District 17.

A native of Mountain Home, Hurst received her B.S.E. and M.S.E. degrees from Arkansas State University and her Ed. D. from the University of Arkansas. Hurst, who had a deep love for animals, often volunteered with the Columbia County Animal Protection Society (CCAPS).

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