Harv Schmidt

Teams coached: Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois record: 89-77 (.536)
Overall record: 89-77 (.536)

1967-1974	Illinois
1964-1967	New Mexico (asst)

Harvard Franklin Schmidt
Born September 25, 1935
Died April 7, 2020
Hometown: Kankakee, Illinois
Alma Mater: University of Illinois (BA, 1957)
The Illinois-native played basketball for head coach Harry Combes and the Fighting Illini
- Drafted 11th overall in the 1957 NBA Draft by the Minneapolis Lakers, but instead played with the Denver-Chicago Truckers (NIBL)
Early coaching roles at Davenport West HS in Iowa (1960-61 and 1962-63) and Moline HS in Illinois (1963-64)
- Served in the Army from 1961-62 in between stints at Davenport West
Joined the coaching staff at New Mexico in 1964, working as an assistant under Bob King for three years
Hired by his alma mater in 1967, taking over after a slush-fund scandal involving his former coach (Combes) and the head football coach created a fallout across both programs
- After going just 11-13 in his first year, finished above .500 in four of the next six seasons
- His 1968-69 team went 19-5 and was ranked as high as #4 in the AP Poll, but was banned from the postseason
- Finished his seven-season tenure as head coach with an overall record 89-77 (43-55 Big Ten)
Returned to Denver in 1975 and worked in the insurance industry
Passed away in 2020 at the age of 84; survived by wife Donna, with whom he had two sons and one daughter