Don Haskins

Legendary basketball coach Henry P. Iba had a profound influence on many of this country's great basketball coaches. But perhaps none more so than Texas El Paso's Don Haskins, a legend in his own right.

Known for his sideline prowling and gruff demeanor which earned him the nickname, "The Bear", Haskins led UTEP to over 700 wins, a national championship, 7 WAC titles and made 14 NCAA Tournament Appearances, 7 NIT appearances and has had just four losing seasons.

Before his coaching days, Haskins lettered in basketball three years at Oklahoma A&M (Oklahoma State University) under Iba and played on two NCAA semi final teams before graduating in 1952. He left Stillwater to play three years in the Industrial League and began coaching in 1955. He coached basketball at Benjamin, Hedley and Dumas, Texas high schools from 1955-1961 before being referred to the Texas Western (now UTEP) position by George McCarty, another Iba disciple.

Through his 38 year legacy, Haskins' most noteable win, changing basketball history, was on March 19, 1966 in the national NCAA title game at Cole Fieldhouse in College Park, Maryland. His team made a stunning 72-65 win over Adolph Rupp's heavily favored Kentucky Wildcats. They played against an all-white Kentucky team, when Haskins became the first coach to ever start a lineup of all black players at a major college level. "No big deal," Haskins said, "I just started my best five players."

Haskins assisted Henry Iba in the 1972 Olympic basketball game and was voted the WAC Coach of the Year in 1983 and 1987. UTEP named the Don Haskins Center in his honor. He was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1987 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1997.

Don Haskins was born March 14, 1930 in Enid, Oklahoma. He graduated from Enid High School in 1948 and was an All-State basketball and baseball player.