Greatest coach

[old.guy]

Summer doldrums question: Who is TU's greatest basketball coach? Most fans probably would pick Nolan, Self or Tubby, but I think a case can be made for Ken Hayes.

Hayes had a 117-69 record over seven seasons, beginning in 1968. Only Nolan had a better record, 119-37. He took TU to the NIT in 1969, when that tourney seriously rivaled the NCAA tournament. He was twice Missouri Valley Conference coach of the year. Had almost no staff and no recruiting budget but still managed to bring in some of the Hurricane's most exciting players. such as Bingo Smith and Willie Biles.

 

[TU_BLA]

It's hard for us new schoolers to appreciate the older coaches.

My vote is Tubby Smith and it's because he got them to the NCAA tournament and also got them to advance to the Sweet Sixteen twice. He set up the additional success of Robinson and Self by making TU a place players wanted to go play. It was also Tubby's success that pushed TU to build the Reynold's Center. That's sort of a big deal.

 

[drboobay]

It's hard for us new schoolers to appreciate the older coaches.

My vote is Tubby Smith and it's because he got them to the NCAA tournament and also got them to advance to the Sweet Sixteen twice. He set up the additional success of Robinson and Self by making TU a place players wanted to go play. It was also Tubby's success that pushed TU to build the Reynold's Center. That's sort of a big deal.

Maybe. But Nolan had a somewhat bigger hill to climb. Not hugely so but true nonetheless.

 

[TU1NNJ]

Summer doldrums question: Who is TU's greatest basketball coach? Most fans probably would pick Nolan, Self or Tubby, but I think a case can be made for Ken Hayes.

Hayes had a 117-69 record over seven seasons, beginning in 1968. Only Nolan had a better record, 119-37. He took TU to the NIT in 1969, when that tourney seriously rivaled the NCAA tournament. He was twice Missouri Valley Conference coach of the year. Had almost no staff and no recruiting budget but still managed to bring in some of the Hurricane's most exciting players. such as Bingo Smith and Willie Biles.

Ken Hayes was also in a very difficult conference.

 

[nevadanatural]

I would have to go with Tubby also.

 

[TU65alum]

Ken Hayes was also in a very difficult conference.

Unbelievably difficult conference!

 

[Gmoney4WW]

Nolan made TU something for Tubby to build on,(despite J.D. 😜) who made it something for Self to build on. Nolan started it all so he has a special place in my memory.

 

[drboobay]

Nolan made TU something for Tubby to build on,(despite J.D. 😜) who made it something for Self to build on. Nolan started it all so he has a special place in my memory.

Yes. The level of excitement for the program in the city was unprecedented and never matched since.

 

[mcane]

Nolan
TU basketball never recovered from the end of the great Ken Hayes era into the sad long Jim King era. Nolan revived it overnight and set the stage for a great 20 year run.
Ken’s teams were amazing but never got over the hump. The MVC was the best or second or third best conference in the country - only the PAC 8 and the ACC challenged it. KU and Kentucky had zero competition in their leagues.

 

[TU Sepp]

Picking an all time best coach is a hard call as TU had 5 very good coaches that all had major contributions to TU basketball during their time here. The 5 are Joe Swank, Kenny Hayes, Nolan Richardson, Tubby Smith, and Bill Self...

 

[Tulsafanzz]

Greatest coach for me is a 3 way tie between Nolan, Tubby & Self.

Most important coach for me would be Nolan Richardson. He put Tulsa basketball on the map.

My favorite coach was Tubby. I loved his enthusiasm and positive attitude. He brought the fans back after Barnett’s completely opposite attitude turned fans away.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Rollin’ with Nolan

 

[TU 1978]

The first TU coach I remember was Joe Swank. He had some great players during his time at TU and was responsible for the integration of TU’s basketball teams. While I suffered from the Jim King years during my time at TU, I credit Nolan Richardson with resurrecting the program after those years.

My favorite coaches listed in chronological order -

Joe Swank
Ken Hayes
Nolan Richardson
Tubby Smith
Bill Self

I am hoping to add Eric Konkol to the list in the near future.

 

[t-townpod]

Tubby all around great. Nolan program builder, self best coaching but tubby had it all

 

[I.I.]

Nolan made TU something for Tubby to build on,(despite J.D. 😜) who made it something for Self to build on. Nolan started it all so he has a special place in my memory.

I think Gary Collier and Dawkins were signees of J.D. Barnett. I think we remember his personality and that overshadows his quite good coaching (X and O's) and some good recruiting despite his personality running several top recruits off. J.D.'s coaching tree is up there with the very best. And yes, the level of excitement the first two years of Nolan Richardson will probably never be touched again.

 

[aTUfan]

1. richardson, rebuilt the program
2. smith, took it to the next level
3. self made us main stream
4a, 4b tricky and hayes. fun teams to watch

 

[Gmoney4WW]

I think Gary Collier and Dawkins were signees of J.D. Barnett. I think we remember his personality and that overshadows his quite good coaching (X and O's) and some good recruiting despite his personality running several top recruits off. J.D.'s coaching tree is up there with the very best. And yes, the level of excitement the first two years of Nolan Richardson will probably never be touched again.

Yeah, I was strictly talking about kids still wanting to play here despite JD and his winning personality. After the fact, Tubby was still able to bring in good kids, due mostly to Nolan. Not even referring to his x's and o's. As far as coaching goes, he could run 🏃 circles around Haith.

 

[TU 1978]

1. richardson, rebuilt the program
2. smith, took it to the next level
3. self made us main stream
4a, 4b tricky and hayes. fun teams to watch

Ken Trickey never coached at TU, only at the school on south Lewis until they ran him off.

 

[aTUfan]

Ken Trickey never coached at TU, only at the school on south Lewis until they ran him off.

you are correct. thanks.

wasn't he a candidate for the TU job at some time?

 

[seniorgolfer]

Greatest coach for me is a 3 way tie between Nolan, Tubby & Self.

Most important coach for me would be Nolan Richardson. He put Tulsa basketball on the map.

My favorite coach was Tubby. I loved his enthusiasm and positive attitude. He brought the fans back after Barnett’s completely opposite attitude turned fans away.

I guess one way of evaluating would be how hard it was to get a ticket
during their tenure.....The champs there were Nolan and Bill Self....Nolan
brought a special charisma that TU fans immediately identified with,
and the excitement of full court basketball......Self seemed to have it
all....Good defense, good recruiting, and a persona that was very media
friendly.....

I really liked Hayes and Tubby.....If Tubby had stayed @ TU, he may
well have been the most successful of them all....He and his staff were
great recruiters, and they were very good @ X's and O's, as well as
in-game coaching.....Hayes probably competed in the toughest
conf. we have ever been in, and did a great job of being competitive ...

We have been blessed with some very good coaches....Our current
hire seems to be a good one, and is breaking new ground in dealing
with the new uncertainties of the portal and NIL...He also is giving
a lot of energy into getting TU being thought of as "Tulsa's team"

Let's hope we are headed back toward the top! I'm certainly ready....

 

[TU Sepp]

People need to remember that Joe Swank was the first basketball coach to recruit black players.

Some Joe Swank recruits...
Sherman Dillard, Julian Hammond, Herm Callands...
Eldridge Webb, Charlie Paulk, Doug Robinson...
Rob Washington, Bobby "Bingo" Smith, Larry Cheatham...

 

[alchemy]

The All-Ken Hayes team of:

Dana Lewis
Bobby Smith
Rob Washington
Willie Biles
Steve Bracey

Is tops!

 

[I.I.]

I remember walking into the Assembly Center in 1981 and a bunch of people were holding up fingers wanting tickets to get in. TU basketball for a couple of years was the hottest ticket in town and it was not on TV often.
Winning the NIT in 1981 was more exciting to the city of Tulsa than a NCAA Championship was to the city of Lawrence this year.

 

[seniorgolfer]

People need to remember that Joe Swank was the first basketball coach to recruit black players.

Some Joe Swank recruits...
Sherman Dillard, Julian Hammond, Herm Callands...
Eldridge Webb, Charlie Paulk, Doug Robinson...
Rob Washington, Bobby "Bingo" Smith, Larry Cheatham...

Remarkably, the first six players you list above were in the same
recruiting class.....Overall, most likely our best ever.....However, the
next one (1965) with Bobby (Bingo) Smith, Rob Washington, and
Larry Cheatham has to rank pretty highly itself.......Can we even
imagine the talent those two classes represented in today's BB
World??

I thought I remembered Swank coaching the "firehouse five", which
included Jim King in the early '60's.....I looked it up--He did....That
little team (and it was) beat a Wichita team that included stallworth,
and Bowman, and a cast of really good players, that was nationally
respected....

King was one of the headiest players we have ever had....He was
like Larry B. in that respect.....He played several years in the NBA,
and certainly belongs on that Swank recruiting list of exceptional
players.....Swank coached some of the best players that have ever
played for us....

P.S...Sherm Dillard beat out Paulk for the forward position across
from Julie Hammond, and Paulk transferred to Northeastern St.
in Tahlequah......He Played really well for them, and is in the NAIA
hall of fame....

 

[TulsaRulzOSUdrools]

I don't like comparing eras a lot of times. In college basketball, there was no 3 point line until 1986. That drastically changed the approach to games.

 

[TU Sepp]

I didn't post all of Swank's top recruits. I just posted 3 years of the black athletes that Swank recruited that forever changed the face of TU basketball. Swank, Hayes, Nolan, Tubby, and Self all made significant contributions to TU basketball at different times when the Golden Hurricane needed it most. I don't really know if I could pick the greatest coach, because none of them had long time careers at TU. Wojcik and Haith had much longer careers at TU, but their teams made no significant impact concerning TU basketball.

 

[I.I.]

I think a greatest coaches thread should include post season success. We have had good coaches who could not achieve that. I will not include Buzz Peterson however even if that helps qualify him. A greatest coach stays longer than one year.

 

[Larry Lewis]

I remember walking into the Assembly Center in 1981 and a bunch of people were holding up fingers wanting tickets to get in. TU basketball for a couple of years was the hottest ticket in town and it was not on TV often.
Winning the NIT in 1981 was more exciting to the city of Tulsa than a NCAA Championship was to the city of Lawrence this year.

I had 2 friends each make over $1000 selling/scalping TU student tickets in 1984 Ross/Harris season. Got activity cards from students for cheap or free, and got the free student tickets. Even if they sold for $4 ot $8 a ticket, it added up. Big games like Shockers and would scalp.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

I had 2 friends each make over $1000 selling/scalping TU student tickets in 1984 Ross/Harris season. Got activity cards from students for cheap or free, and got the free student tickets. Even if they sold for $4 ot $8 a ticket, it added up. Big games like Shockers and would scalp.

If you were lucky, they wouldn’t sell out and would have a few to giveaway the next day for the free Whoppers.

 

[I.I.]

If you were lucky, they wouldn’t sell out and would have a few to giveaway the next day for the free Whoppers.

The days of Whoppers and the Milkman were some of the best TU athletic times for the bandwagon fans. Maybe some of that excitement will re-appear some day.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

The days of Whoppers and the Milkman were some of the best TU athletic times for the bandwagon fans. Maybe some of that excitement will re-appear some day.

A girl on a unicycle, a guy in a gorilla suit and the Polka Dot Twins. Those were the days.

 

[TU 1978]

Didn’t we have a sofa near the end of the court at the Assembly Center where the rowdy folks sat?

 

[Tu Geo]

Nolan
Bill
Tubby

First two probably had the best teams/talent but I liked Tubby the best!!!!

Go TU!!!!

 

['Cane-man]

I wonder who the most popular coach is between Doug Wojcik and J.D. Barnett?

 

[TU65alum]

I wonder who the most popular coach is between Doug Wojcik and J.D. Barnett?

Probably Jim King.

 

[HuffyCane]

I think Gary Collier and Dawkins were signees of J.D. Barnett. I think we remember his personality and that overshadows his quite good coaching (X and O's) and some good recruiting despite his personality running several top recruits off. J.D.'s coaching tree is up there with the very best. And yes, the level of excitement the first two years of Nolan Richardson will probably never be touched again.

If the question is “Most Respected Basketball Mind” as voted on by Hall of Fame coaches, it’s JD and it’s not even close. The number of legendary coaches who have mentioned JD as an influence would floor most TU fans - starting with Tubby Smith while speaking to a Kentucky audience.

Greatest? Tubby.

 

[TU 1978]

I thought how different JD and Tubby were in personality and temperament. Tubby was a great improvement over JD in those areas.

 

[Tu Geo]

If the question is “Most Respected Basketball Mind” as voted on by Hall of Fame coaches, it’s JD and it’s not even close. The number of legendary coaches who have mentioned JD as an influence would floor most TU fans - starting with Tubby Smith while speaking to a Kentucky audience.

Greatest? Tubby.

A good friend of mine who is now a president of a University in Texas was a dean at TU back during the JD coaching days. The school instituted a program in which employees of the school were invited to sit in during games and halftime in the locker room for the basketball team. My buddy who is very bright said he was lost within five minutes of JD's halftime speech. The statistical numbers he was spewing were so intense and complicated that my friend was dumbfounded. He said the players had tuned JD out with in minutes. LOL. I'm sure other basketball minds were impressed however. I guess he was quite the intellectual.

GO TU!!!!

 

[noble cane]

I don't like comparing eras a lot of times. In college basketball, there was no 3 point line until 1986. That drastically changed the approach to games.

Not really TU related, but, i have always wondered how many points Pete Maravich would have had with a 3pt line..

 

[TU Sepp]

Not really TU related, but, i have always wondered how many points Pete Maravich would have had with a 3pt line..

Most likely about 33% more points than shows up as his all time total!!!