Bob Spear

Bob Spear (1918-1995)

Teams coached: Air Force Falcons
Air Force record: 177-175 (.503)
Overall record: 177-175 (.503)

Career Accomplishments:

• NCAA National Championships:  0
• NCAA Tournament Appearances:  2  (1960, 1962)
• NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen:  0
• NIT Championships:  0
• NIT Appearances:  0

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

1956-1971

Air Force

Bob Spear Facts

• Robert B. Spear
• Born July 8, 1918
• Died October 26, 1995
• Hometown: Mansfield, Ohio
• Alma Mater: DePauw University (BA, 1941)
• Spear became the first-ever head basketball coach at Air Force, starting in 1956 and leading the Falcons until 1971
  • Utilized the Shuffle Offense (or Drake Shuffle) that Bruce Drake used at the school before the program officially started
  • During his tenure, the AFA had a maximum height restriction that applied to athletes, making this especially difficult in basketball
  • Went 177-175 overall, finishing .500 or better eight times, including each of his first six seasons
  • Led the Falcons to the University Division (D-I) NCAA Tournament in both 1960 and 1962
• Passed away in 1995 at the age of 77; posthumously inducted into the Air Force Athletics Hall of Fame (class of 2015)

Bob Spear Coaching Tree

• Hank Egan (San Diego, Air Force)
• Reggie Minton (Air Force, Dartmouth)
• Gregg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs, Pomona-Pitzer)
• Dean Smith (North Carolina)