Floyd Burdette

Floyd Burdette
Sport(s) Basketball
Biographical details
Born September 5, 1914
Martin, Tennessee
Died December 1, 1995 (aged 81)
Martin, Tennessee
Alma mater Murray State
Oklahoma A&M
Playing career
1935
1936–1938
1943–1944		 UT–Martin
Murray State
Oklahoma A&M
Position(s) Center
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1939–1940
1946–1952
1952–1971		 Oklahoma A&M (Assistant)
Alabama
UT–Martin
Head coaching record
Overall 278–260

Floyd Burdette (September 5, 1914 – December 1, 1995) was a former head coach for both the Alabama and Tennessee–Martin Skyhawks men's basketball teams. Born in Martin, Tennessee, Burdette played college basketball for one season at UT Junior College and three at Murray State University from 1935 to 1938. In all four season he competed, Burdette led his team in scoring and was an all-conference selection. He then attended Oklahoma A&M where he both coached and played in 1944 before he began his head coaching career.

Early life

Burdette was born at Martin, Tennessee on September 5, 1914.[1] He attended UT Junior College (now known as the University of Tennessee at Martin) in 1935 where he was a member of the basketball team.[2] Burdette led the Mississippi Valley Conference in scoring and was a selection to the all-conference squad, but transferred to Murray State University after the season.[2] As a member of the Racers squad for the 1936, 1937 and 1938 seasons, Burdette was both their leading scorer and was selected All-SIAA in each season.[3]

After he graduated from Murray State, Burdette went to graduate school at Oklahoma A&M (now known as Oklahoma State University) in 1939.[4] As he pursued his masters degree in physical education, Burdette coached the Cowboys freshman team. He then played for the Oklahoma City 89ers AAU basketball team in Oklahoma City before he returned to Oklahoma A&M to head the school's air crew training program during World War II.[4] As a result of changes to eligibility requirements for participation in intercollegiate athletics due to the war, Burdette played for Henry Iba as a center on the 1943–44 Oklahoma A&M basketball squad.[4][5]

Coaching career

Burdette served as head men's basketball coach at Alabama from 1946 through 1952. During his six season tenure with the Crimson Tide, he amassed an overall record of 81 wins and 59 losses (81–59).[6] After he lest Alabama, Burdette returned to his hometown and coached at Tennessee–Martin from 1952 to 1971. During his nineteen-year tenure with the Skyhawks, he amassed an overall record of 197 wins and 201 losses (197–201) and the 1970 Volunteer State Athletic Conference championship.[7]

Head coaching record

Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Alabama Crimson Tide (Southeastern Conference) (1946–1952)
1946–1947 Alabama 16–6 13–5 4th
1947–1948 Alabama 15–12 8–8 4th
1948–1949 Alabama 13–12 9–9 6th
1949–1950 Alabama 9–12 8–9 5th
1950–1951 Alabama 15–8 10–4 2nd
1951–1952 Alabama 13–9 9–5 2nd
Alabama: 81–59 57–40
Tennessee–Martin Skyhawks (Independent) (1952–1960)
1952–1953 Tennessee–Martin 7–9
1953–1954 Tennessee–Martin 15–3
1954–1955 Tennessee–Martin 14–4
1955–1956 Tennessee–Martin 13–6
1956–1957 Tennessee–Martin 7–13
1957–1958 Tennessee–Martin 8–2
1958–1959 Tennessee–Martin 9–13
1959–1960 Tennessee–Martin 10–9
Tennessee–Martin Skyhawks (Volunteer State Athletic Conference) (1960–1971)
1960–1961 Tennessee–Martin 13–10 7–5
1961–1962 Tennessee–Martin 13–11 8–6
1962–1963 Tennessee–Martin 12–12 6–4
1963–1964 Tennessee–Martin 11–10 8–4
1964–1965 Tennessee–Martin 11–13 6–6
1965–1966 Tennessee–Martin 12–8 7–2
1966–1967 Tennessee–Martin 11–13 6–1
1967–1968 Tennessee–Martin 3–18 3–7
1968–1969 Tennessee–Martin 8–12 5–5
1969–1970 Tennessee–Martin 14–12 6–4
1970–1971 Tennessee–Martin 3–20 0–9
Tennessee–Martin: 197–201 62–53
Total: 278–260

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

  1. ↑ "Individual Record: Floyd Burdette". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Hall of Fame: Floyd Burdette". University of Tennessee at Martin. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Hall of Fame: Floyd Burdette". Murray State University. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Oklahoma not new to Floyd Burdette". The Tuscaloosa News (Google News Archives). December 22, 1949. p. 12. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  5. ↑ "All-Time Roster". 2007–08 Oklahoma State University Basketball Media Guide (PDF). Stillwater, Oklahoma: Oklahoma State University Athletics Media Relations Office. 2007. p. 164. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Year by Year Results Breakdown". 2005–06 Alabama Basketball Media Guide (PDF). Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office. 2005. p. 120. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  7. ↑ "All-Time Coaches". 2011–12 University of Tennessee at Martin Men’s Basketball Media Guide (PDF). Martin, Tennessee: University of Tennessee at Martin Athletics Media Relations Office. 2011. p. 78. Retrieved April 25, 2012.