History

UofM Basketball Program Established 1924

Named West Tennessee State Normal School in 1912, the University of Memphis' first basketball program began in 1924.

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ZACH CURLIN 1924-1948

FOR 24 YEARS, CURLIN (MR. EVERYTHING) COACHED THE MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM, MEN'S BASEBALL TEAM, MEN'S FOOTBALL TEAM, AND MEN'S TRACK TEAM

Zach Curlin

In 1924, Zach Curlin started coaching the West Tennessee State Normal School (now known as University of Memphis) basketball team. Called "Mr. Everything", Curlin would go on to also coach men's baseball, men's football and men's track team. He would go onto coaching until 1948.

WIN WILFONG 1957

NBA CAREER: ST. LOUIS HAWKS CINCINNATI ROYALS SUCCESS: 1958 NBA CHAMPION

WIN WILFONG

DRAFTED 1957 NBA CAREER: ST. LOUIS HAWKS CINCINNATI ROYALS SUCCESS: 1958 NBA CHAMPION

WAYNE YATES 1961

NBA CAREER: LOS ANGELES LAKERS OAKLAND OAKS COACHING CAREER: MEMPHIS STATE NORTHWESTERN LOUISIANA

WAYNE YATES

DRAFTED 1961 NBA CAREER: LOS ANGELES LAKERS OAKLAND OAKS COACHING CAREER: MEMPHIS STATE NORTHWESTERN LOUISIANA

MIKE BUTLER 1968

NBA/ABA CAREER: SAN DIEGO ROCKETS SAN DIEGO CONQUISTADORS NEW ORLEANS BUCCANEERS UTAH STARS SUCCESS: 1971 ABA CHAMPION

MIKE BUTLER

DRAFTED 1968 NBA/ABA CAREER: SAN DIEGO ROCKETS SAN DIEGO CONQUISTADORS NEW ORLEANS BUCCANEERS UTAH STARS SUCCESS: 1971 ABA CHAMPION

RICH JONES 1969

NBA/ABA CAREER: PHOENIX SUNS DALLAS CHAPARRALS SAN ANTONIO SPURS NEW YORK KNICKS SUCCESS: 2X ABA ALL STAR, 1976 ABA CHAMPION

RICH JONES

DRAFTED 1969 NBA/ABA CAREER: PHOENIX SUNS DALLAS CHAPARRALS SAN ANTONIO SPURS NEW YORK KNICKS SUCCESS: 2X ABA ALL STAR, 1976 ABA CHAMPION

GENE BARTOW 1970-1974

HEAD COACH OF THE MEMPHIS STATE MENS BASKETBALL TEAM; LED THE TIGERS TO THE 1973 NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

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RONNIE ROBINSON 1973

NBA/ABA CAREER: PHOENIX SUNS UTAH STARS MEMPHIS TAMS MEMPHIS SOUNDS

RONNIE ROBINSON

DRAFTED 1973 NBA/ABA CAREER: PHOENIX SUNS UTAH STARS MEMPHIS TAMS MEMPHIS SOUNDS

LARRY KENON 1973

NBA/ABA CAREER: DETROIT PISTONS SAN ANTONIO SPURS CHICAGO BULLS SUCCESS: 2X NBA ALL STAR, 3X ABA ALL STAR, 1974 ABA CHAMPION

LARRY KENON

DRAFTED 1973 NBA/ABA CAREER: DETROIT PISTONS SAN ANTONIO SPURS CHICAGO BULLS SUCCESS: 2X NBA ALL STAR, 3X ABA ALL STAR, 1974 ABA CHAMPION

LARRY FINCH 1973

NBA/ABA CAREER: LOS ANGELES LAKERS MEMPHIS TAMS MEMPHIS SOUNDS BALTIMORE HUSTLERS BALTIMOR CLAWS COACHING CAREER: MEMPHIS STATE HEAD COACH 1986-1997

LARRY FINCH

DRAFTED 1973 NBA/ABA CAREER: LOS ANGELES LAKERS MEMPHIS TAMS MEMPHIS SOUNDS BALTIMORE HUSTLERS BALTIMOR CLAWS COACHING CAREER: MEMPHIS STATE 1986-1997

DANA KIRK 1979-1986

HEAD COACH OF MEMPHIS STATE MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM

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HANK MCDOWELL 1981

NBA: GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS, PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS, SAN DIEGO CLIPPERS, HOUSTON ROCKETS, MILWAUKEE BUCKS RADIO CAREER: MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES’ COLOR COMMENTATOR

HANK MCDOWELL

DRAFTED 1981 NBA: GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS, PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS, SAN DIEGO CLIPPERS, HOUSTON ROCKETS, MILWAUKEE BUCKS RADIO CAREER: MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES’ COLOR COMMENTATOR

KEITH LEE 1985

NBA: CHICAGO BULLS, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS, NEW JERSEY NETS

KEITH LEE

DRAFTED 1985 NBA: CHICAGO BULLS, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS, NEW JERSEY NETS

LARRY FINCH 1986-1997

HEAD COACH OF MEMPHIS STATE MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM

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ANDRE TURNER 1986

NBA: LOS ANGELES LAKERS, BOSTON CELTICS, HOUSTON ROCKETS, MILWAUKEE BUCKS, LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS, CHARLOTTE HORNETS, PHILADELPHIA 76ERS, WASHINGTON BULLETS

ANDRE TURNER

DRAFTED 1986 NBA: LOS ANGELES LAKERS, BOSTON CELTICS, HOUSTON ROCKETS, MILWAUKEE BUCKS, LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS, CHARLOTTE HORNETS, PHILADELPHIA 76ERS, WASHINGTON BULLETS

WILLIAM BEDFORD 1986

NBA: PHOENIX SUNS, DETROIT PISTONS, SAN ANTONIO SPURS

WILLIAM BEDFORD

DRAFTED 1986 NBA: PHOENIX SUNS, DETROIT PISTONS, SAN ANTONIO SPURS

VINCENT ASKEW 1987

NBA: PHILADELPHIA 76ERS, WASHINGTON BULLETS, GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS, SACRAMENTO KINS, SEATTLE SUPERSONICS, NEW JERSEY NETS, INDIANA PACERS, DENVER NUGGEST, PORTLAND TRAIN BLAZERS

VINCENT ASKEW

DRAFTED 1987 NBA: PHILADELPHIA 76ERS, WASHINGTON BULLETS, GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS, SACRAMENTO KINS, SEATTLE SUPERSONICS, NEW JERSEY NETS, INDIANA PACERS, DENVER NUGGEST, PORTLAND TRAIN BLAZERS