Tony Yates

Tony Yates (born September 15, 1937)

Teams coached: Cincinnati Bearcats
Cincinnati record: 70-100 (.412)
Overall record: 70-100 (.412)

Career Accomplishments:

  • NCAA National Championships:  0
  • NCAA Tournament Appearances:  0
  • NIT Championships:  0
  • NIT Appearances:  1  (1985)

Awards:

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

1983-1989 Cincinnati
1974-1983 Illinois (asst)
1972-1974 Cincinnati (asst)

Tony Yates Facts

  • Tony Yates
  • Born September 15, 1937
  • Hometown: Lawrenceburg, Indiana
  • Alma Mater: University of Cincinnati (BA, 1963)
  • Originally from Indiana, Yates attended Lockland Wayne HS across the border in Cincinnati, OH
    • Graduated early and enlisted in the US Air Force, serving at Ellsworth AFB in South Dakota until 1959
  • Started his collegiate career already 22 years of age, playing for three years at Cincinnati for coach Ed Jucker
  • Began his coaching career at Cincy in 1972, spending two seasons as one of Gale Catlett‘s assistants
  • Left for Illinois in 1974, where he coached under Gene Bartow for a year and Lou Henson for eight more
    • Was part of two NCAA Tournaments and two NITs in nine years with the Fighting Illini
  • Returned to his alma mater Cincinnati in 1983 when he was hired to be the Bearcats’ head coach
    • Went 70-100 in six years at the helm, reaching the NIT in 1985 but never the NCAA Tournament
    • Fired in 1989 after finishing above .500 for just the second time in his tenure
  • Worked in the private sector after that, specifically investing in auto dealerships in and around Cincinnati
    • Also started the Caring for Kids Foundation for families in Cincinnati
  • Inducted into the Cincinnati Athletics HOF in 1985 and the Ohio Basketball HOF in 2020
  • Along with his wife, Maxine, has one son and one daughter

Tony Yates Coaching Tree

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