Hall of Fame
Gene Bartow, Men’s Basketball Coach
Central Missouri, 1961-64
Bartow coached the Mules from 1961 to 1964 compiling a 47-21 overall record, including 20-10 in MIAA play. He went on to coach at the Division I level at Valparaiso (1964-70), Memphis (1970-74), Illinois (1974-75), UCLA (1975-77) and Alabama-Birmingham (1978-96). He led his 1972-73 Memphis State to the NCAA Championship game. He replaced legendary UCLA coach John Wooden and led the Bruins to a combined 52-9 mark in two seasons, including two trips to the NCAA Tournament and a third place finish in his first season in 1975-76. He served as the first head coach and athletic director at UAB for 18 years. He led the school to the NIT in the second year of existence and followed it up with seven straight NCAA Tournament appearances. In 34 years as a head coach he compiled a 647-353 record. He led his teams to 20 postseason appearances and 14 NCAA Tournaments. He was elected to the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1989, the UCM Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000, the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in November of 2009 and was named one of Valparaiso University’s 150 most influential people in October 2009. He was a 1952 graduate of Truman State University.