The Legend of Denise Monroe

In the first of what I hope becomes an ongoing series, I am taking a look at one of Troy’s most notable athletes: Denise Monroe.

Admittedly, my major focus in researching has been football, so when I came across Denise Monroe in a women’s basketball media guide, I was floored. I mean, she is the only Troy player in all sports to have their jersey retired. How had I managed to miss such a phenomenal player in Troy history?

That led me into researching her career and finding out more about this Trojan Legend.

Denise Monroe was a star forward from Brooks County High School in Quitman, GA. (Coincidentally, Monroe was a star Trojan there too.) During her senior season, she was named Most Valuable Player at the Georgia All-Star Game.

It was hoped that her high school success would translate to collegiate success, but I’m sure not even then-women’s coach Joyce Sorrell would have believed how good she would be. She would go on to become the greatest women’s basketball player in Troy history, marking a new standard in play through her various game, season, and career records.

She began her freshman campaign off on a tear, setting multiple freshman records that still stand today.

Monroe only holds two single-game records from her illustrious career. She is in a tie with herself at #1 with 26 rebounds, once in 1978 against South and again in 1980 against North Alabama.

She is also tied with Amy Sanders (1997) at #1 in assists. Both women were credited with 15 assists, with Monroe’s coming again in her freshman year of 1978.

Monroe is in the top 10 of 21 different single-season records, spanning every year of her Trojan career. She ranks second in rebounds with 389 in 1980-81 and second in rebound average with 12 per game in 1977-78, still a freshman record. The very next year she averaged 11.9 rebounds per game, which is good for third all-time!

Monroe is third in free throws attempted with 188 in 1980-81. She is fourth in free throws made with 125 in 1979-80.

Monroe was #5 in several categories: field goals made (242 in 1980-81), free throws made (122 in 1980-81), free throws attempted (173 in 1979-80, tied), rebound average (11.4 in 1980-81), points (606 in 1980-81), and steals (82 in 1980-81).

She ranks #6 for a season in field goal attempts with 496 in 1980-81, rebounds with 339 in 1979-80, and #6 in rebound average with 11.4 rebounds per game in 1980-81. Monroe is #8 in rebounds with 323 in 1977-78, another freshman record.

So to recap: her freshman year she set the mark for #2 all-time in rebound average, then #3, #5 and #6.

Her #9 ranking in field goals percentage (.565) in 1977-78 is still also a freshman record. She also still ranks #9 in blocks in a season with 41 in 1980-81.

Monroe also ranks #10 in four single-season categories, all of which are still freshman records: scoring average (18.6 in 1977-78), field goals made (216 in 1977-78), three pointers attempted (137 in 1977-78), and points (502 in 1977-78, tied). She acutally averaged a double-double in every one of her seasons at Troy.

Denise Monroe has one of the more illustrious careers of any Trojan. She ranks #1 all time in points (2,024) and is one of only two Trojan players, men or women, to score more than 2,000 points (The other is Wesley Person, 2063.).

She is also first all-time in field goals made (823), free throw attempts (609), and rebound average (11.6 per game). She is #2 in field goal attempts (1587), made free throws (378), and rebounds (1324). Her career stats in the record book round out with #3 scoring average (17.8 ppg), #4 field goals percentage (.519), and #10 in blocks (63).

Monroe’s accolades didn’t stop at the record book. She was a second team All-American in 1981, still Troy’s only All-American in women’s basketball.

She was a four-time Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women All-Conference, making her the only four-time All-Conference selection in Troy history. She was also a four-time AIAW All-Tournament Team selection, leading Troy to the 1981 AIAW State Championship.

She was also a Gulf South Conference All Tournament team in 1981. Monroe was invited to try out for the USA Women’s Olympic basketball team in 1980 (though the US would skip that one). She was also an inaugural member of the Troy Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.

The most lasting honor given to Monroe was in her jersey retirement. Save for Troy legend Chase Riddle as a coach, no other Trojan player has had a jersey retirement ceremony.

Hers took place on November 14, 1998. Between the time she left Troy and that date, seven other women had worn #30, but none have donned it since.

It is a lasting tribute to a pioneer of not just women’s basketball, but Troy basketball as a whole. There have been few who could match her impact on the court.