Gene Bartow

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Gene Bartow (August 18, 1930 – ) is a former college men's basketball coach. The Browning, Missouri native coached 34 years at six universities. He coached at Central Missouri State University from 1961-64, Valparaiso University from 1964-1970, the Memphis State University from 1970 until '74, and he led the Tigers to the '73 NCAA national championship game and consecutive Missouri Valley Conference titles in the '71-'72 and '72-'73 seasons. In 1974 Bartow accepted the head coaching position at the University of Illinois. Illinois finished 8-18 in his only season coaching the Fighting Illini, and Bartow left his position to succeed John Wooden as the head coach of UCLA. Bartow coached at UCLA from 1975 to 1977, guiding them to a 52-9 record, including a berth in the 1976 Final Four. Bartow left UCLA after the 1977 season to take over the job of creating an athletic program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, more commonly known as UAB. He served as the school's first head basketball coach and athletic director for 18 years. Bartow led UAB to the NIT in the program's second year of existence, and followed that up with seven straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including trips to the Sweet 16 in 1981 and the Elite Eight in 1982. Bartow retired from coaching in 1996, and in 1997, UAB renamed its basketball venue, Bartow Arena, in his honor. His son Murray, a UAB assisstant, became the coach when Gene retired. Gene is now a NBA scout with the Memphis Grizzlies.

Preceded by Paul Meadows	Valparaiso Head Men's Basketball Coach 1964 – 1970	Succeeded by Bill Purden
Preceded by Moe Iba	Memphis State University Head Men's Basketball Coach 1970 – 1974	Succeeded by Wayne Yates
Preceded by Harv Schmidt	Illinois Head Men's Basketball Coach 1974 – 1975	Succeeded by Lou Henson
Preceded by John Wooden	UCLA Head Men's Basketball Coach 1975 – 1977	Succeeded by Gary Cunningham
Preceded by (created program)	UAB Head Men's Basketball Coach 1978 – 1995	Succeeded by Murry Bartow