 Gunter took a medical leave of absence in the middle of the 2003–04 season.Her top assistant, Pokey Chatman, who had played for Gunter in the late 1980s and early 1990s and served as an assistant coach since the end of her playing days, took over as interim coach and led the Tigers to their first Final Four.However, Gunter was still officially head coach, and LSU credits the entire season to her.