Don Haskins
Inducted:
1997
Stats
Born
March 14, 1930
Enid, Oklahoma, U.S.
Died
September 7, 2008
El Paso, Texas, U.S.
Position
Coach
College
University of Texas at El Paso
Don Haskins, famously known as "The Bear," was a legendary figure in basketball history, revered as much for his social impact as his tactical brilliance. Haskins spent 38 years as the head coach at Texas Western College (now UTEP), where he built a program based on defensive intensity and "no-nonsense" discipline. Haskins is most celebrated for the 1966 NCAA Championship, a watershed moment in American history.
In the final against the top-ranked, all-white Kentucky team, Haskins made the groundbreaking decision to start five African American players for the first time in a title game. This 72–65 victory shattered the myth that Black athletes could not succeed in a disciplined, team-oriented system and accelerated the integration of college sports and the NBA. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.
Haskins' Awards and Records
- 1966 NCAA National Champion
- College Basketball Hall of Fame (2006)
- John Bunn Award (2007 - Lifetime Achievement)
- NCAA University Division tournament (1966)
- 7 WAC regular season (1970, 1983–1987, 1992)
- 4 WAC tournament (1984, 1986, 1989, 1990)
- 2× WAC Coach of the Year (1983, 1987)
Teams
Texas Western / UTEP (1961–1999)
NBA Stats
Total Career Wins:
719
Overall Record:
719–353 (.671)
NCAA Championships:
1 (1966)
Conference Championships:
7 (WAC Regular Season)
NCAA Tournament Berths:
14
Winning Seasons:
32 (out of 38)
Tournaments:
14–13 (NCAA)
4–6 (NIT)