Hardwood Heros

By C. Renzi Stone and Bob Burke 

Oklahoma’s impact on the art and science of coaching basketball is great. Oklahoma coaches have not only produced winning teams, they have literally influenced the way the game is played around the world. Pioneers such as Henry Iba and Bertha Teague were without equal in their era.

Not only did Oklahoma coaches impact many basketball programs at universities beyond the state’s borders, basketball fans around the world knew about the great coaches from the Sooner State. No other state has produced more coaches who led the United States basketball team to gold medals in the Olympic Games.