Henry Iba - Misplaced Pages

Henry Payne “Hank” Iba (/ˈaɪbə/; August 6, 1904 – January 15, 1993) was an American basketball coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head basketball coach at Northwest Missouri State Teacher's College, now known as Northwest Missouri State University, from 1929 to 1933; the University of Colorado Boulder from 1933 to 1934; and the Oklahoma State University–Stillwater, known as Oklahoma A&M prior to 1957, from 1934 to 1970, compiling a career college basketball coaching record of 751–340. He led Oklahoma A&M to consecutive NCAA basketball tournament titles, in 1945 and 1946.

Iba was also the athletic director at Oklahoma A&M / Oklahoma State from 1935 to 1970 and the school's head baseball coach from 1934 to 1941, tallying a mark of 90–41. As head coach of the United States men's national basketball team, he led the U.S. to the gold medals at the 1964 and 1968 Summer Olympics. Iba was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969.

Early life

Iba was born and raised in Easton, Missouri. He played college basketball at Westminster College, where he became a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. The basketball court at Westminster is now named in his honor.

Career

After coaching stints at Maryville Teachers' College (now Northwest Missouri State University) and the University of Colorado, Iba came to Oklahoma A&M College in 1934. He stayed at Oklahoma A&M, renamed Oklahoma State University in 1957, for 36 years until his retirement after the 1969–70 season. For most of his tenure at A&M/OSU, he doubled as athletic director. Additionally, Iba coached OSU's baseball team from 1934 to 1941.

Iba is thought to be one of the toughest coaches in NCAA history. He was a very methodical coach who expected things to be done perfectly. His teams were a reflection of his personality. They were methodical, ball-controlling units that featured weaving patterns and low scoring games. Iba's "swinging gate" defense (a man-to-man with team flow) was applauded by many, and is still effective in today's game. He was known as "the Iron Duke of Defense."

Iba's Aggies became the first to win consecutive NCAA titles (1945 and 1946). His 1945–46 NCAA champions were led by Bob Kurland, the game's first seven-foot player. They beat NYU in the 1945 finals and North Carolina in the 1946 finals. He was voted coach of the year in both seasons. His 1945 champions defeated National Invitation Tournament champion, DePaul, and 6'10" center George Mikan in a classic Red Cross Benefit game.

Inside Gallagher-Iba Arena January 22, 2005.

A&M/State teams won 14 Missouri Valley titles and one Big Eight title, and won 655 games in 36 seasons.

Iba's tenure crested in 1958. That year, the Cowboys joined (or rejoined, depending on the source) the Big Eight and promptly won the conference title, advancing all the way to the Elite Eight. However, after that season, his Cowboys only finished higher than fourth two more times in Big Eight play, one of which was another Elite Eight appearance in 1965.

All told, in 40 years of coaching, he won 767 games—the second-most in college basketball history at the time of his retirement. As OSU's athletic director, he built a program that won 19 national championships in 5 sports (basketball, wrestling, baseball, golf, cross-country) over the years. After his retirement, "Mr. Iba" (as he is still called at OSU) frequently showed up at practices, often giving advice to young players.

In 1987, OSU's home arena, Gallagher Hall, was renamed Gallagher-Iba Arena in Iba's honor. A seat in the southeast concourse level of the arena is known as "Mr. Iba's Seat," and it is maintained without a fan having sat in it.

Olympic coaching

Iba coached the United States Olympic basketball team in 1964, 1968 and 1972. He is the first coach in U.S. Olympic basketball history to coach two gold medal-winning teams (1964 in 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics and 1968 in 1968 Mexico City Summer Olympics). Coach Mike Krzyzewski became the second in 2012. At his third Olympics in charge in 1972, Iba led his team to another gold medal game, which resulted in a highly controversial 50–51 loss to the Soviet Union, breaking Team USA's 63-game winning streak in Olympic competition.

Honors and awards

Iba was elected to the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, the Missouri Hall of Fame, the Helms Foundation All-Time Hall of Fame for basketball, The Westminster College (MO) Sports Hall of Fame, National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame (in 2006), FIBA Hall of Fame (in 2007) and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (in 1969) at Springfield, Massachusetts.

Iba was indirectly responsible for a $165 million donation to the Oklahoma State University athletic program. In 1951, T. Boone Pickens, a graduate of OSU with a degree in petroleum geology, was looking for a job and asked Iba for help. Iba set the young graduate up with two interviews for high-school basketball coaching jobs and although Pickens didn't end up becoming a coach, the favor Iba did for him was the impetus behind his decision 50 years later to make a $165 million donation to Oklahoma State University's athletic program.

Iba was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1965.

Death

Iba died on January 15, 1993, in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Legacy

Coaching tree

Iba is known for his coaching tree, the group of prominent coaches who either coached or played for Iba himself, or are linked to Iba by playing for one of his pupils. Coaches in this tree typically use a physical man-to-man defense and an offense predicated on ball movement and passing.

Coach	Iba connection	Years as Head Coach	Notes
Larry Brown	Played for the 1964 U.S. Olympic team	Numerous college and pro teams, 1972–present	1988 NCAA title; 2004 NBA title; coached the 2004 U.S. Olympic team.
Doug Collins	Played for the 1972 U.S. Olympic team	Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Washington Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers, 1986–2013
Jack Hartman	Played for Oklahoma A&M, 1943–47; assistant coach at Oklahoma A&M, 1954	Southern Illinois, Kansas State, 1962–86	NABC National Coach of the Year, 1981
Don Haskins	Played for Oklahoma A&M, 1949–52; assistant coach on the 1972 U.S. Olympic Team	Texas Western/UTEP, 1961–1999	1966 NCAA title
Moe Iba	Played for Oklahoma State, 1958–62; assistant to Don Haskins at UTEP, 1962–66	Memphis State, Nebraska, Texas Christian, 1966–94	Son of Henry Iba
Bob Knight	Assistant coach on 1972 the U.S. Olympic Team	Army, Indiana, Texas Tech, 1965–2008	1976, '81, and '87 NCAA titles. Coached 1984 the U.S. Olympic team.
Bud Millikan	Played for Oklahoma A&M, 1939–42	Maryland, 1950–67
Doyle Parrack	Played for Oklahoma A&M, 1943–46	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1950–62
Wilbur "Sparky" Stalcup	Played for Iba at Northwest Missouri, 1929–33	Northwest Missouri, Missouri, 1933–62
Eddie Sutton	Played for Oklahoma A&M, 1955–58; assistant coach at Oklahoma State, 1958–59	Creighton, Arkansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma State, San Francisco, 1969–2008	1978 and 1986 AP National Coach of the Year

Henry Iba Award

The Henry Iba Award was established in 1959 to recognize the best college basketball coach of the year by the United States Basketball Writers Association. Five nominees are presented and the individual with the most votes receives the award which is presented in conjunction with the Final Four. The award is presented at the Oscar Robertson Trophy breakfast the Friday before the Final Four.

Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete of the Year

In 1994, the Rotary Club of Tulsa established the Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete of the Year Award to honor two athletes, one male and one female, which have exhibited or demonstrated excellence in their sport and in life. In 1997, the Rotary Club of Tulsa established the Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete of the Year Award with additional acknowledgement by recognized by the Chairman's Award. Former New York Knicks player John Starks was the male winner of the award in 1997.

Portrayals

In 2017, John Savage portrayed Iba in the Russian sport drama Going Vertical, about the 1972 Olympic final.

Head coaching record

College basketball

Statistics overview
Season	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Postseason
Northwest Missouri State Bearcats (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1930–1933)
1929–30	Northwest Missouri State	31–0
1930–31	Northwest Missouri State	31–6
1931–32	Northwest Missouri State	20–2			NAAU Runner-up
1932–33	Northwest Missouri State	12–7
Northwest Missouri State:		93–15 (.861)
Colorado Silver and Gold (Rocky Mountain Faculty Athletic Conference) (1933–1934)
1933–34	Colorado	9–8	7–7
Colorado:		9–8 (.529)
Oklahoma A&M/State Cowboys (Missouri Valley Conference) (1934–1957)
1934–35	Oklahoma A&M	9–9	5–7	5th
1935–36	Oklahoma A&M	16–8	9–4	T–1st
1936–37	Oklahoma A&M	19–3	11–1	1st
1937–38	Oklahoma A&M	25–3	13–1	1st
1938–39	Oklahoma A&M	19–8	11–3	1st
1939–40	Oklahoma A&M	26–3	12–0	1st	NIT Final Four
1940–41	Oklahoma A&M	18–7	8–4	2nd
1941–42	Oklahoma A&M	20–6	9–1	T–1st
1942–43	Oklahoma A&M	14–10	7–3	T–2nd
1943–44	Oklahoma A&M	27–6		1st*	NIT Final Four
1944–45	Oklahoma A&M	27–4		1st*	NCAA Champion
1945–46	Oklahoma A&M	31–2	12–0	1st	NCAA Champion
1946–47	Oklahoma A&M	24–8	8–4	T–2nd
1947–48	Oklahoma A&M	27–4	10–0	T–1st
1948–49	Oklahoma A&M	23–5	9–1	1st	NCAA Runner-up
1949–50	Oklahoma A&M	18–9	7–5	3rd
1950–51	Oklahoma A&M	29–6	12–2	1st	NCAA Fourth Place
1951–52	Oklahoma A&M	19–8	9–3	2nd
1952–53	Oklahoma A&M	23–7	8–2	1st	NCAA Elite Eight
1953–54	Oklahoma A&M	24–5	9–1	1st	NCAA Elite Eight
1954–55	Oklahoma A&M	12–13	5–5	3rd
1955–56	Oklahoma A&M	18–9	8–4	2nd	NIT First Round
1956–57	Oklahoma A&M	17–9	8–6	3rd
Oklahoma State Cowboys (Big Eight Conference) (1957–1970)
1957–58	Oklahoma State	21–8			NCAA University Division Elite Eight
1958–59	Oklahoma State	11–14	5–9	5th
1959–60	Oklahoma State	10–15	4–10	7th
1960–61	Oklahoma State	14–11	8–6	3rd
1961–62	Oklahoma State	14–11	7–7	4th
1962–63	Oklahoma State	16–9	7–7	5th
1963–64	Oklahoma State	15–10	7–7	4th
1964–65	Oklahoma State	20–7	12–2	1st	NCAA University Division Elite Eight
1965–66	Oklahoma State	4–21	2–12	7th
1966–67	Oklahoma State	7–18	2–12	7th
1967–68	Oklahoma State	10–16	3–11	7th
1968–69	Oklahoma State	12–13	5–9	6th
1969–70	Oklahoma State	14–12	5–9	7th
Oklahoma State:		653–317 (.673)	257–152 (.628)
Total:		755–340 (.689)
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

College baseball

Statistics overview
Season	Team	Overall
Oklahoma A&M Cowboys (Missouri Valley Conference) (1934–1941)
1934	Oklahoma A&M	11–4
1935	Oklahoma A&M	8–8
1936	Oklahoma A&M	13–7
1937	Oklahoma A&M	13–4
1938	Oklahoma A&M	13–4
1939	Oklahoma A&M	11–7
1940	Oklahoma A&M	13–5
1941	Oklahoma A&M	8–2
Oklahoma A&M:		90–41 (.687)
Total:		90–41 (.687)
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

"Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 2, 2007. Retrieved August 26, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
Editor. (May 2000). A closer look. Awards honor altruistic athletes. The Rotarian. Rotary International. Vol. 176, No. 5. 64 pages. ISSN 0035-838X.
Editor. (2016). Chairman’s Award. Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete of the Year. Rotary Club of Tulsa. Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Tramel, Jimmie (6 June 1997). "Iba Award Goes to Starks". Tulsa World. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
"Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2012. Retrieved December 31, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
"Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

External links

Henry Iba at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Henry Iba at Find a Grave
Henry Iba at the Team USA Hall of Fame

Links to related articles

Northwest Missouri State Bearcats men's basketball head coaches

Carl Hanson (1914–1915)
George Palfreyman (1915–1918)
M. H. Sims (1918–1919)
Robert Rice (1919–1921)
Russell Sprong (1921–1922)
Eugene Maynor (1922–1923)
H. Frank Lawrence (1923–1929)
Henry Iba (1929–1933)
Wilbur Stalcup (1933–1943)
Ryland Milner (1943–1950)
H. D. Peterson (1950–1952)
Dale Kessinger (1952–1954)
Robert Gregory (1954–1959)
Marion Moss (1959–1964)
Dick Buckridge (1964–1972)
Bob Iglehart (1972–1977)
Larry Holley (1977–1980)
Lionel Sinn (1980–1989)
Steve Tappmeyer (1989–2009)
Ben McCollum (2009–2024)
Matt Keeley (2024–present)

Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball head coaches

No coach (1901–1906)
Frank Castleman (1906–1912)
John McFadden (1912–1914)
James N. Ashmore (1914–1917)
Bob Evans (1917–1918)
Enoch J. Mills (1918–1924)
Howard Beresford (1924–1933)
Henry Iba (1933–1934)
Dutch Clark (1934–1935)
Frosty Cox (1935–1942)
No team (1942–1944)
Frosty Cox (1944–1950)
Bebe Lee (1950–1956)
Sox Walseth (1956–1976)
Bill Blair (1976–1981)
Tom Apke (1981–1986)
Tom Miller (1986–1990)
Joe Harrington (1990–1996)
Ricardo Patton (1996–2007)
Jeff Bzdelik (2007–2010)
Tad Boyle (2010– )

Oklahoma State Cowboys head baseball coaches

Paul J. Davis (1909–1915)
Art Griffith (1916)
Earl A. Pritchard (1917–1918)
Randle Perdue (1919)
Hoot Sackett (1920–1921)
John Maulbetsch (1922–1929)
George E. Rody (1930)
No team (1931)
Albert Exendine (1932–1933)
Henry Iba (1934–1941)
Toby Greene (1942–1943)
No team (1944–1945)
Toby Greene (1946–1964)
Chet Bryan (1965–1977)
Gary Ward (1978–1996)
Tom Holliday (1997–2003)
Frank Anderson (2004–2012)
Josh Holliday (2013– )

Oklahoma State Cowboys head basketball coaches

Boyd Hill (1907–1908)
William Schrieber (1908–1910)
No team (1910–1911)
Paul J. Davis (1911–1913)
No team (1913–1914)
Paul J. Davis (1914–1915)
John G. Griffith (1915–1917)
Earl A. Pritchard (1917–1919)
Jim Pixlee (1919–1921)
John Maulbetsch (1921–1929)
George E. Rody (1929–1931)
Harold James (1931–1934)
Henry Iba (1934–1970)
Sam Aubrey (1970–1973)
Guy R. Strong (1973–1977)
Jim Killingsworth (1977–1979)
Paul Hansen (1979–1986)
Leonard Hamilton (1986–1990)
Eddie Sutton (1990–2006)
Sean Sutton (2006–2008)
Travis Ford (2008–2016)
Brad Underwood (2016–2017)
Mike Boynton (2017–2024)
Steve Lutz (2024–present)

Oklahoma State Cowboys and Cowgirls athletic directors

Paul J. Davis (1909–1915)
Edward C. Gallagher (1915–1933)
Pappy Waldorf (1933–1934)
Henry Iba (1935–1970)
Floyd Gass (1971–1978)
Dick Young (1978–1983)
Myron Roderick (1983–1990)
Jim Garner (1990–1993)
Dave Martin # (1993–1995)
Terry Don Phillips (1995–2002)
Harry Birdwell (2002–2005)
Mike Holder (2005–2021)
Chad Weiberg (2021– )

# denotes interim athletic director

Oklahoma A&M Aggies men's basketball 1944–45 NCAA champions

Head coach: Henry Iba

Assistant coach: Bud Millikan

Oklahoma A&M Aggies men's basketball 1945–46 NCAA champions

Head coach: Henry Iba

v t e United States basketball squad – 1964 Summer Olympics – Gold medal
4 Barnes 5 Bradley 6 Brown 7 Caldwell 8 Counts 9 Davies 10 Hazzard 11 Jackson 12 McCaffrey 13 Mullins 14 Shipp 15 Wilson Coach: Iba

v t e United States basketball squad – 1968 Summer Olympics – Gold medal
4 Barrett 5 Clawson 6 Dee 7 Fowler 8 Haywood 9 Hosket 10 King 11 Saulters 12 Scott 13 Silliman 14 Spain 15 White Coach: Iba

v t e United States basketball squad – 1972 Summer Olympics – Silver medal
4 Davis 5 Collins 6 Henderson 7 Bantom 8 B. Jones 9 D. Jones 10 Forbes 11 Brewer 12 Burleson 13 McMillen 14 Joyce 15 Ratleff Coach: Iba

Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Coach of the Year

1949: H. Iba
1950: Anderson
1951: H. Iba
1952: Hickey
1953: H. Iba
1954: R. Miller
1955: C. Iba
1956: Pasche
1957: Hickey
1958: G. Smith
1959: G. Smith
1960: Orsborn
1961: Jucker
1962: Orsborn
1963: Jucker
1964: John
1965: Thompson
1966: Baker
1967: Swank
1968: John
1969: Hayes & John
1970: John
1971: Polk
1972: Bartow
1973: Hayes & Crum
1974: Stowell
1975: Henson
1976: Ekker
1977: Hayes
1978: Apke
1979: Hodges
1980: Versace
1981: Richardson
1982: Garner
1983: Drew
1984: Donewald
1985: Richardson
1986: Versace
1987: Barnett & Fogler
1988: Albeck
1989: Barone
1990: Herrin
1991: Locke
1992: Bender
1993: Washington
1994: T. Smith
1995: T. Smith
1996: Molinari
1997: E. Miller
1998: Stallings
1999: Crews
2000: Waltman
2001: Altman
2002: Altman
2003: Weber
2004: Painter
2005: Lowery
2006: Turgeon
2007: Lowery
2008: Davis
2009: Jacobson
2010: Jacobson
2011: Martin
2012: Marshall
2013: Marshall
2014: Marshall
2015: Jacobson
2016: Hinson
2017: Muller
2018: Moser
2019: DeVries
2020: Jacobson
2021: DeVries
2022: Jacobson
2023: Wardle
2024: Schertz

v t e Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 1969
Players	Dutch Dehnert
Coaches	Red Auerbach Henry Iba Adolph Rupp
Contributors	Chuck Taylor

Members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Players

Guards	R. Allen Archibald Barnett Beckman Belov Billups Bing Blazejowski Borgmann Braun Brennan Bryant Carter Cervi Cheeks Clayton Cooper-Dyke Cousy Dampier Davies Drexler Dumars Edwards Endacott Frazier Friedman Galis Gervin Ginóbili Goodrich Greer Grentz Guerin Hammon Hanson Hardaway Haynes Holman Hyatt Isaacs Iverson Jeannette Jenkins D. Johnson M. Johnson K. Jones S. Jones Jordan Kidd Lieberman Maravich Marcari Marčiulionis Martin McDermott McGrady D. McGuire Meyers R. Miller Moncrief Monroe Moore C. Murphy Nash Page Parker Payton Petrović Phillip Posey Richmond Robertson Rodgers Roosma J. Russell Schommer Scott Sedran Sharman K. Smith Staley Steinmetz Stockton Swoopes Thomas D. Thompson Timms Vandivier Wade Wanzer Weatherspoon West Westphal Whalen J. White Wilkens Woodard Wooden
Forwards	Arizin Augustus Barkley Barry Baylor Bird Bosh Boswell Bradley R. Brown Cash Catchings C. Cooper M. Cooper Cunningham Curry Dalipagić Dandridge Dantley Davis DeBusschere Dehnert Duncan English Erving Foster Fulks Gale Garnett Gasol Gates Gola Hagan Havlicek Hawkins Hayes Haywood Heinsohn Hill Howell Hudson L. Jackson G. Johnson B. Jones King Korać Kukoč Lucas Luisetti K. Malone McClain B. McCracken J. McCracken McGinnis McHale Mikkelsen C. Miller Mullin Nowitzki Pettit Pierce Pippen Pollard Pullins Radja Ramsey Rodman Schayes E. Schmidt O. Schmidt Stokes C. Thompson T. Thompson Twyman Walker Webber N. White Wilkes Wilkins Worthy Yardley
Centers	Abdul-Jabbar Barlow Beaty Bellamy Chamberlain T. Cooper Ćosić Cowens Crawford Daniels DeBernardi Divac Donovan Ewing Gallatin Gilmore Griffith Gruenig Harris-Stewart Houbregs Issel Jackson W. Johnson Johnston M. Krause Kurland Lanier Leslie Lovellette Lapchick Macauley Maciel M. Malone McAdoo Meneghin Mikan Mourning S. Murphy Mutombo Olajuwon O'Neal Parish Reed Risen Robinson B. Russell Sabonis Sampson Semjonova Sikma Thurmond Unseld Wachter Wallace Walton Washington Yao

FIBA Hall of Fame inductees

FIBA
Members