Sport(s) | Basketball, baseball |
---|---|
Biographical details | |
Born |
Easton, Missouri |
August 6, 1904
Died | January 15, 1993 Stillwater, Oklahoma |
(aged 88)
Playing career | |
1923–1927 | Westminster |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
Basketball | |
1929–1933 | Northwest Missouri State |
1933–1934 | Colorado |
1934–1970 | Oklahoma State |
Baseball | |
1934–1941 | Oklahoma State |
Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
1934–1970 | Oklahoma State |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 751–340 (.688) (basketball) 90-41 (.687) (baseball) |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Championships | |
2× NCAA Division I championship (1945, 1946) 4× Regional Championships - Final Four (1945, 1946, 1949, 1951) |
|
Basketball Hall of Fame Inducted in 1969 (profile) |
|
College Basketball Hall of Fame Inducted in 2006 |
|
Medal record
|
Henry Payne "Hank" Iba (/ˈaɪbə/; August 6, 1904 – January 15, 1993) was an American hall-of-fame basketball coach, winner of two NCAA Men's Division I basketball championships and two Olympic gold medals.
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.
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's teams 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 is thought to be one of the toughest coaches in NCAA history. He was a very methodical coach, and he always wanted things done perfectly.
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 6'9" center George Mikan in a classic Red Cross Benefit game.