Henry Iba

Henry Iba (1904-1993)

Teams coached: Northwest Missouri State Teacher’s College, Colorado Buffaloes, Oklahoma A&M/State Cowboys
Northwest Missouri State record: 94-15 (.862)
Colorado record: 9-8 (.529)
Oklahoma State record: 654-317 (.674)
Overall record^: 757-340 (.690)

Career Accomplishments:

Awards:

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

1934-1970 Oklahoma A&M/State
1933-1934 Colorado
1929-1933 Northwest Missouri State Teacher’s College

Henry Iba Facts

  • Henry “Hank” Payne Iba
  • Born August 6, 1904
  • Died January 15, 1993
  • Hometown: Easton, Missouri
  • Alma Mater: Westminster College (BA, 1927)
  • Played basketball at Westminster College in his home state of Missouri; the basketball court there is now named in his honor
  • Started his coaching career with a four-year stint at Northwest Missouri State Teacher’s College (now Northwest Missouri State)
    • There he went 94-15, including a 31-0 record in his first season, and won three MIAA titles
  • Spent one year as the head coach at Colorado, finishing the season with a 9-8 record
  • Best known for his long and successful tenure at Oklahoma State (known as Oklahoma A&M until 1957)
    • Won two NCAA National Championships, went to four Final Fours and won 654 games during his 36 years in Stillwater
    • Also served as the school’s athletic director, overseeing 19 national championships across five sports
    • OSU’s arena was renamed the Gallagher-Iba Arena in 1987 to honor Iba and legendary OSU wrestling coach Ed Gallagher
  • Iba also coached the United States national team in the 1964, 1968 and 1972 Olympics, winning two gold medals and one silver
    • Some of his players and assistants during those Olympic trips included Larry Brown, Doug Collins and Bob Knight
  • In addition to the Naismith and National Collegiate HOFs, Iba has been inducted into the Oklahoma Sports HOF, Oklahoma Sports HOF (c/o 1965), Missouri Sports HOF, Helms Foundation All-Time HOF and FIBA HOF (c/o 2007)
  • Along with his wife, Doyne Williams Iba, had one son – Moe Iba – who would also become a collegiate head basketball coach

Henry Iba Coaching Tree

  • Sam Aubrey (Oklahoma State)
  • Floyd Burdette (UT Martin, Alabama)
  • Lavalius Gordon (Texas Southern)
  • Jerry Hale (Oral Roberts, Southern Idaho)
  • Jack Hartman (Kansas State, Southern Illinois)
  • Don Haskins (Texas Western/UTEP)
  • Clarence Iba (Tulsa)
  • Gene Iba (Pittsburg State, Baylor, Houston Baptist)
  • Bud Millikan (Maryland)
  • Doyle Parrack (Oklahoma, Oklahoma City)
  • Sparky Stalcup (Missouri, Northwest Missouri)
  • Eddie Sutton (Oklahoma State, Kentucky, Arkansas, Creighton, Southern Idaho)

 

^ overall record includes head coaching positions at both the NCAA Division I and II levels