Bob Stevens

Bob Stevens (1923-2012)

Teams coached: South Carolina Gamecocks, Oklahoma Sooners
South Carolina record: 34-45 (.430)
Oklahoma record: 46-79 (.368)
Overall record: 80-124 (.392)

Career Accomplishments:

  • NCAA National Championships:  0
  • NCAA Tournament Appearances:  0
  • NIT Championships:  0
  • NIT Appearances:  0

Awards:

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

1962-1967 Oklahoma
1959-1962 South Carolina
1956-1959 Michigan State (asst)
1953-1956 Michigan State (grad. asst/freshmen)

Bob Stevens Facts

  • Robert Louis Stevens
  • Born November 11, 1923
  • Died September 29, 2012
  • Hometown: Warsaw, Indiana
  • Alma Mater: Michigan State University (BA, 1949 & MA, 1956)
  • Played basketball at Sydney HS (IN) and first attended Michigan before enlisting in the US Marine Corps in 1942
    • Served in World War II, part of the first Marine units to arrive in Nagasaki after the atomic bombing
    • Later played at Michigan State under head coach Benjamin Van Alstyne; graduated from MSU in 1949
  • Started his coaching career in his home state, coaching all sports at the unified school in Milford, IN
    • A member of the US Marine Corps reserves, Stevens was called to active duty in 1952 in Korea
  • Hired by Pete Newell in 1953 as a graduate assistant and freshmen coach at Michigan State
    • Elevated to full-time varsity assistant in 1956 by Sparty head coach Forddy Anderson
  • Became the head coach at South Carolina in 1959, going 34-45 in three seasons with the Gamecocks
  • Left Columbia for Norman, OK in 1962, becoming the head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners
    • Went 46-79 in five seasons at the helm, but failed to reach the postseason
    • Resigned in April 1967 following an 8-17 season
  • Retired from the Marine Corps reserve as a Colonel after nearly 30 years of service
  • Spent 20 years as the director of the Waterford Athletic Club in Edmond, OK (1983-2003)
  • Passed away in 2012 following a boating accident on Lake Texoma at age 88
    • Preceded in death by his wife, Jo; survived by their children, Nancy and Robert

Bob Stevens Coaching Tree

  • John MacLeod (Notre Dame, New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, Oklahoma Sooners)
  • Gordon C. Stauffer (Nicholls State, Geneva, IPFW, Indiana State, Washburn)