Gene Bartow Alabama Sports Hall Of Fame ’89 National College Basketball Hall Of Fame ’09
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ne of the most respected figures in intercollegiate athletics, Gene Bartow, forged the UAB athletic program into a well-rounded organization with outstanding teams in several sports. Bartow, considered the “founding father” of UAB athletics, grew the intercollegiate sports program there from its infancy into one that featured 17 sports and an annual operating budget of more than $8 million by the time he retired from the position in 2000. Bartow, who passed away Jan. 3, 2012 after a nearly three-year battle with cancer, guided the program through three conference changes, grew the football team from a club sport into a Division I-A program, and added several women’s sports to the university’s athletics roster. Bartow was at the helm of the UAB men’s basketball program for 18 seasons, compiling a record of 366-203 (.643) during his tenure. He led the Blazers to the NIT in the program’s second year of existence, and followed that up with seven straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including trips to the Sweet 16 in 1981 and the Elite Eight in 1982. In all, he led UAB to 14 postseason appearances, nine of which were NCAA Tournaments. In addition to his time at UAB, Bartow is one of the top college basketball coaches of all time. By the time he retired from collegiate coaching in 1996, he had led teams for 34 years at six universities (Central Missouri State, Valparaiso, Memphis State, Illinois, UCLA and UAB), compiling 647 wins, 15 NCAA Tournament appearances, two Final Four appearances, one national title game appearance and one national Coach of the Year Award (both with Memphis State in 1973), and no probation problems with the NCAA. In 2009, Bartow received the ultimate honor as he was inducted into the National College Basketball Hall of Fame. He entered the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1989 and is also a member of both the Missouri Basketball Hall of Fame and the Northeast Missouri Athletic Hall of Fame. The Browning, Mo. native coached 34 years at six universities. He coached at Central Missouri State University from 1961-64, Valparaiso University from 1964-1970, Memphis State University from 1970-74, and he led the Tigers to the ‘73 NCAA national championship game and consecutive Missouri Valley Conference titles in the ‘71-’72 and ‘72-’73 seasons. In 1974 Bartow accepted the head coaching position at the University of Illinois. Illinois finished 8-18 in his only season coaching the Fighting Illini, and Bartow left his position to succeed John Wooden as the head coach of UCLA. Bartow coached at UCLA from 1975 to 1977, guiding them to a 52-9 record, including a berth in the 1976 Final Four. Bartow left UCLA after the 1977 season to take over the job of creating an athletic program at UAB. Bartow retired from coaching in 1996, and in 1997, UAB renamed its basketball venue, Bartow Arena, in his honor. The Birmingham News has voted him one of the top 10 most influential figures in Alabama sports for the past century. Bartow is survived by his wife, the former Ruth Huffine, and three children, Mark, Beth and Murry, who is the head men’s basketball coach at East Tennessee State.
“Founding Father” of UAB Athletics • UAB head basketball coach (1977-96) • UAB’s first Athletics Director (1977-2000) • Nine NCAA Tournament appearances at UAB • 14 postseason appearances during 18year coaching career at UAB • 11 20-win seasons during UAB coaching career tenure • 647 career coaching victories • 366 victories at UAB • Led UAB to NCAA Sweet 16 in 1981 and Elite Eight appearance in 1982 • Voted by the Birmingham News as one of the top-10 influential figures in Alabama sports over the past century