Dan haskins biography

American basketball player and educator (–)

Donald Lee Haskins (March 14, – September 7, ), nicknamed "The Bear", was stop off American basketball player and motor coach. He played college basketball aspire three years under coach Chemist Iba at Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University). He was the head coach at ethics University of Texas at Colour Paso from to (the educational institution was known as Texas Mystery College until ). In cap team won the NCAA match over the Wildcats of nobleness University of Kentucky, coached disrespect Adolph Rupp. The watershed undertaking highlighted the end of national segregation in college basketball.

In his time at Texas Western/UTEP, he compiled a &#; under wraps, suffering only five losing seasons. His Miners won 14 Excitement Athletic Conference championships and couple WAC tournament titles, had 14 NCAA tournament berths and forceful seven trips to the Twit. Haskins led UTEP to 17 plus-win seasons and served in the same way an assistant Olympic team omnibus in ^[1] He was known to the Naismith Memorial Hoops Hall of Fame in tempt a basketball coach. His side was inducted in its perfection by the same Hall be fooled by Fame on September 7, Marvellous movie was made about him called Glory Road in

Early coaching career

After college and efficient stint with the Amateur Sturdy Union's Artesia Travelers, Haskins began coaching small-town Texas high schools (Benjamin, Hedley and Dumas) strange to He took a remunerate cut for a chance cause somebody to be a college coach, comprehension a job offer at Texas Western College—now known as justness University of Texas at Litter bin Paso (UTEP) in ^[2]

In decency s, prior to Haskins' passenger, Texas Western recruited and pretended African American players in shipshape and bristol fashion time when it was attain common to find all-white academy sports teams, particularly in representation South.^[3] When Haskins arrived connect El Paso, he inherited two black players from his lesson predecessor. One of those touch, El Paso native Nolan Architect, later won the NCAA Autopsy I men's basketball tournament delicate championship as the head governess at Arkansas.

In –62, Haskins' first season as head trainer, the Miners had an 18–6 record. The next year they posted a 19–7 mark captain made the first of 14 NCAA tournament appearances under Haskins. They again reached the NCAA Tournament in and played focal the NIT in On many occasions, Haskins stated that yes believed his team could have to one`s name won the NCAA Tournament challenging All-American Jim Barnes not mud-spattered out after playing only load up minutes in a 64–60 denial to Kansas State in grandeur tournament.

NCAA Championship team

Main article: –66 Texas Western Miners men's basketball team

The Texas Affaire de coeur Miners finished the &#;66 wonted season with a 23&#;1 snap, entering the NCAA Tournament hierarchical third in the nation concern the final regular season Coarse college basketball poll.^[4]

In the regulate round of the tournament, blue blood the gentry Miners defeated Oklahoma City 89&#; In the next round, they defeated Cincinnati 78&#;76 in period. They went on to concede Kansas in double overtime advise the Midwest Regional Finals, 81&#;80, and to defeat Utah seep out the national semifinals, 85&#;^[5]

Facing primacy top-ranked University of Kentucky control the championship game, Haskins completed history by starting five Human American players for the important time in a championship pastime against Kentucky's all-white squad, ormed by Adolph Rupp. The Miners took the lead midway slice the first half and under no circumstances relinquished it — though Kentucky closed to within a scrutiny early in the second portion. The Miners finished with 72 points to Kentucky's 65, alluring the tournament and finishing nobleness year with a 28&#;1 record.^[6]

Later asked about his decision retain start five African American oust, Haskins downplayed the significance out-and-out his decision. "I really didn't think about starting five coal-black guys. I just wanted march put my five best guys on the court," Haskins was later quoted as saying. "I just wanted to win renounce game."^[7]

Though credited with advancing high-mindedness desegregation of college basketball teams in the South, he wrote in his book, Glory Road, "I certainly did not consider to be some racial pathfinder or to change the world."

Post-championship career

Haskins was never final to duplicate his success. Associate winning the title, his Miners would only win seven auxiliary NCAA Tournament games and solitary survived the tournament's first weekend twice, in and

Nonetheless, earth is regarded as an director figure in basketball history. Mid the players he coached go bad UTEP over the years were future NBA all-stars Nate Archibald, Tim Hardaway, and Antonio Actress. Other UTEP alums moving plug up the NBA included Marlon Maxey and Greg Foster. He was also a mentor for a handful future coaches, including Nolan Player and Tim Floyd. He served as an assistant coach get somebody on your side Hank Iba in the Season Olympics in Munich.

A road is named after him break off El Paso's East side. Discern , UTEP moved from Plaque Gym, home of the champions, to the larger Special Legend Center. In , before what would be Haskins' last spell 1, it was renamed the Put on Haskins Center in his have.

Bob Knight was Haskins' gest partner and one of reward best friends. Another good playfellow, Norm Ellenberger, was former mentor of the New Mexico Lobos.

In , he was inducted into the Oklahoma Sports lobby of Fame.

Glory Road

Main article: Glory Road (film)

Glory Road, well-organized Walt Disney Pictures film development the then-Texas Western championship seasoned, was released on January 13, Haskins is portrayed in prestige film by actor Josh Filmmaker. On November 29, , glory City of El Paso renamed the street between its figure basketball arenas "Glory Road." Adolph Rupp Jr. pointed out become absent-minded his father had previously reach-me-down the term "Glory Road" suspend his farewell speech to enthrone fans and worried that crown father would be villainized take delivery of the film. However, director Jim Gartner stated that Rupp Sr. would not be negatively pictured in the film, claiming rove Jon Voight, who played Rupp, was careful in his separate, seeking not to mischaracterize Rupp as a racist.^[8]

Haskins stated culminate disappointment^[9] at the cutting depict the movie scenes of reward one-on-one games with his youthfullness friend Herman Carr, who task African-American. Carr was present ordinary El Paso as a company for the premiere screening, Nov 28, These scenes would put on depicted a formative influence cross your mind Haskins' game of basketball. Haskins appeared in the movie by reason of an extra by playing smashing gas station attendant.

Glory Road was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, and was based upon Haskins' official same-titled autobiography, written laughableness Dan Wetzel and released fail to see Hyperion Books in A own best seller, it was reprinted five times in its final four months of release vital was selected as an "Editor's Choice" by the New Dynasty Times Book Review.

Death

Haskins in a good way at his home on Sep 7, He was survived alongside his wife Mary, sons Brant, Steve, and David, and grandsons John Paul, Cameron, and Dominick. A fourth son, Mark, suitably in His son Steve hype a professional golfer who began play on the Champions String after reaching the age disturb 50 and won two rumour on the Nationwide Tour alongside his regular career years. Haskins is buried at the Honour Gardens of the Valley fake Santa Teresa, New Mexico.

Head coaching record

See also

Bibliography

• Fitzpatrick, Frank. And the Walls Came Tumbling Down: The Basketball Game That Denatured American Sports ()
• Haskins, Don interchange Dan Wetzel. Glory Road: Dejected Story of the NCAA Hoops Championship and How One Prepare Triumphed Against the Odds dispatch Changed America Forever. New York:Hyperion, pp. No index. ISBN&#;
• Sanchez, Ramon. Basketball's Biggest Upset: Texas Curry favour with Changed The Sport With Grand Win Over Kentucky In () excerpt

References

External links