Hall of Fame
In 1947, Gayle Kaundart was placed on the All-AIC First Team for his basketball prowess. He again made All-Conference in 1948, this time earning Second Team honors. The following season he helped the team to an AIC co-championship, the first of its kind in 20 years at the school. He was named All-AIC Second Team following the team’s championship season. He capped his senior season by earning All-AIC First Team honors. After graduation, Kaundart would continue his excellence in basketball as he established himself as one of the top High School coaches at Fort Smith Northside guiding the boy's team for 19 years. From 1958-74, the school took home six state titles, including 1974 when the team finished a perfect 30-0. He garnered Arkansas High School Basketball Coach of the Year in 1958, 1959, 1965, 1971, and 1974. In 1971, he was named the National High School Athletic Coaches Association District 5 Coach of the Year. He then went to Westark Junior College as head men's basketball coach where he captured seven Region II tournaments, nine Bi-State Conference titles and a national title in 1981. In 13 seasons under Kaundart, Westark had six 30-plus winning seasons and only two years with more than nine losses. He posted a winning percentage of 81 percent, compiling a 379-87 record. He was named Region 2 Junior College Coach of the Year eight times and was the National Junior College Coach of the Year in 1981. During his more than 30 years of coaching, Kaundart posted a 975-293 record. Kaundart was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1984. He was also inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame. In 1974, he received the College of the Ozarks Alumni Achievement Award.
