Billy Tubbs

Billy Tubbs (born March 5, 1935) is a former men's college basketball coach. The Tulsa, Oklahoma native has been the head coach of his alma mater Lamar University (1976–1980, 2003–2006), the University of Oklahoma (1980–1994) and Texas Christian University (1994–2002). His first head coaching job — from 1971-72 through 1972-73 — was at Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas, where his teams were 12–16 and 19–8. From there he went to the University of North Texas to serve as assistant coach under Gene Robbins^[1] and for one year under Bill Blakely.

Tubbs was known for his high scoring offense and full-court press defense.

Tubbs achieved many coaching milestones during his coaching career. He became the ninth coach in NCAA history to record 100 wins at three different schools (Oklahoma 333, TCU 156 and Lamar 121). He became the 28th coach in NCAA Division I history to record 600 wins in Lamar's 79-67 win over Texas Southern during the 2003-04 season.^[2]

In 31 years of coaching, Tubbs compiled a 641-340 (.653) career record, including a 121-89 record in seven years at Lamar. He guided 12 teams to NCAA Tournament appearances, six National Invitation Tournament appearances, eight conference championships, three conference tournament championships and 18 20-win seasons. His 641 wins ranks 34th all-time in NCAA history. While at Oklahoma, Tubbs guided the Sooners to runner-up finishes in the NCAA Tournament (1988) and the National Invitation Tournament (1991). Basketball Weekly named Tubbs National Coach of the Year in 1983 and 1985.^[3]

In March 2006, Tubbs resigned as head coach of Lamar to become the Athletic Director for the Lamar Cardinals. He was succeeded by Steve Roccaforte. In June 2010 Tubbs resigned as Athletic Director to become Special Advisor to Lamar University President James Simmons on Athletics. He was succeeded by Larry Tidwell.

On February 19 during halftime Billy was honored by Lamar with the naming of the Montagne Center basketball court in his and his wife's honor. The court was named the "Billy & Pat Tubbs Court" ^[4][5] During the same halftime ceremony Lamar also honored Billy's 78-79 Cardinal squad the first team in Lamar University history to advance to the NCAA tournament.

Head coaching record

Assistant coaching positions

Tubbs was the assistant men's basketball coach at the University of North Texas for three seasons, 1973-74 & 1974-75 under Head Coach Gene Robbins and 1975-76 under Head Coach Bill Blakeley. In Blakeley's first season at North Texas, Tubbs, with newly hired Assistant Coach Jimmy Gales, helped turn around a team that had been 6-20 in 1975, to 22-4 in 1976, averaging 96 points a game – the second highest in the nation. After that season, Tubbs accepted his first head coaching job at Lamar University for the 1976-77 season.

See also

• List of college men's basketball coaches with 600 wins

References

External links