Henry Iba

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Henry Payne "Hank" Iba (August 6, 1904 - January 15, 1993) was a well-known college men's basketball coach.

[edit] Biography

Iba was born and raised in Easton, Missouri. He played college ball at Westminster College. As a collegiate coach at Oklahoma A&M, later Oklahoma State, and a three-time mentor of US Olympic teams, Iba did more than win national championships and gold medals. He transcended greatness. Mr. Iba's teams were methodical, ball-controlling units that featured weaving patterns and low scoring games. Iba's "swinging gate" defense (a man-to-man with team flow) was applauded by many, and is still effective in today's game. Iba's Aggies became the first to win consecutive NCAA titles (1945 and 1946). His 1945-46 NCAA champions were led by Bob Kurland, the game's first seven-foot player. They beat NYU in the 1945 finals and North Carolina in the 1946 finals. He was voted coach of the year in both seasons. His 1945 champions also defeated National Invitation Tournament champion, DePaul, and 6-9 center George Mikan in a classic Red Cross Benefit game.

Henry Iba is thought to be one of the toughest coaches in NCAA history. He was a very methodical coach, and he always wanted things done perfectly.

A&M/State teams won 14 Missouri Valley titles, and were largely responsible for generating most of Iba's 767 victories, third best in NCAA Division I history. "Mr. Iba" also coached at Maryville Teacher's College and the University of Colorado. He is the only coach in history to win two Olympic gold medals (1964 in Tokyo; 1968 in Mexico City), and he will also be remembered as the coach of the 1972 Olympic team that lost to the Soviet Union in a controversial ending. Iba held the dual position of basketball coach and athletic director until he retired in 1970. As Athletic Director, his vision lead OSU to the forefront of collegiate athletics. The University garnered an amazing 19 National Championships in 5 sports (basketball, wrestling, baseball, golf, cross country) over this period.

He was elected to the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, the Missouri Hall of Fame, the Helms Foundation All-Time Hall of Fame for basketball, and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame at Springfield, Mass. Henry Iba died on January 15, 1993, in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Today, the 'Henry P. Iba Award' is presented to the National Coach of the Year by the United States Basketball Writers Association.

Iba is known for his coaching tree. Coaches in this tree typically use a physical man to man defense, and an offense predicated on ball movement and passing, and are linked to Iba through their mentors. Some notable coaches who are included in it, either by themselves or by the media:

• John Wooden
• Adolph Rupp
• Bobby Knight
• Eddie Sutton
• Sean Sutton
• Scott Sutton
• Doc Sadler
• Bill Self
• Billy Gillispie
• Don Haskins

Preceded by Harold James

Oklahoma State University Head Basketball Coach 1934–1970

Succeeded by Sam Aubrey

[edit] The Henry Iba Award

The Henry Iba Award was established in 1959 to recognize the best college basketball coach of the year by the United States Basketball Writers Association. Five nominees are presented and the individual with the most votes receives the award which is presented in conjunction with the Final Four. The award is named for Henry Iba, Oklahoma A&M coach who was called “The Iron Duke of Defense.” Iba won the NCAA College Championship in 1945 and 1946 and coached the US Olympic Teams to two Gold Medals in 1964 and 1968. This Award is presented at The Oscar Robertson Trophy Breakfast the Friday before the Final Four.

[edit] External links

• Basketball Hall of Fame profile
• The Henry Iba Award
• Past Henry Iba Award Winners