Bob Vanatta from The Savitar, 1963
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Sport(s) | Basketball |
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Biographical details | |
Born |
Columbia, Missouri |
July 7, 1918
Died | October 22, 2016 Jupiter, Florida |
(aged 98)
Playing career | |
1943–1945 | Central Methodist |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
1947–1950 | Central Methodist |
1950–1953 | SW Missouri State |
1953–1954 | Army |
1954–1956 | Bradley |
1956–1962 | Memphis State |
1962–1967 | Missouri |
1972–1973 | Delta State |
Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
1973–1976 | Oral Roberts |
1976–1979 | Ohio Valley Conference (Comm.) |
1979–1983 | Trans America Athletic Conference (Comm.) |
1983–1986 | Louisiana Tech |
1986–1994 | Sunshine State Conference (Comm.) |
1997–1999 | Florida Atlantic (Assoc. AD) |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 333–200 (.625) |
Tournaments | NCAA: 2-2 (.500) |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Championships | |
2× NAIA champion (1952, 1953) |
Bob Vanatta (July 7, 1918 – October 22, 2016) was an American head basketball coach for Central Methodist, Missouri State University, Army, Bradley, Memphis State, Missouri, and Delta State University. At Missouri State, he won the 1952 and 1953 NAIA Championship. At Memphis State, he compiled a 109-34 record, including making it to the 1957 NIT Championship game. After coaching, he later served as athletic director at Oral Roberts University, commissioner of the Ohio Valley Conference, commissioner of the Atlantic Sun Conference, executive director of the Independence Bowl, athletic director at Louisiana Tech University, commissioner of the Sunshine State Conference, president of the NCAA Division II Conference Commissioner's Association, and associate athletic director at Florida Atlantic University. He was a member of the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, which presents the Lou Groza Award to the nation's top placekicker.
Vanatta died October 22, 2016, aged 98, in Melbourne, Florida.
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