Tribute to Don Haskins

Don Haskins won 719 games in 38 seasons at UTEP (formerly Texas Western) and coached the team all the way through 1999. Haskins was not known for winning all or even most of those games, he was known for winning the 1966 National Championship against Adolph Rupp's Kentucky team 72-65. The game was a true stepping stone for college basketball and sports in general. Haskins Texas Western team was the first team to start 5 black players in a NCAA championship game and to make the game even more significant, Kentucky had an entirely white starting line-up, including current Miami Heat coach Pat Riley. What happened next went down in basketball lore forever, as the Miners of Texas Western held off a Kentucky team that was the overwhelming favorite. The game has been talked about for decades as the most influential game in college basketball ever. It was even made into a major motion picture, "Glory Road." Haskin's nickname was "Bear." He worked officials tirelessly and seemingly had the ability to change momentum in times of desperation. He was hard-nosed and his players always gave it their all, as was apparent in the 1966 championship game. They never let up playing defense til the very end, pursued every loose ball, and rebound as if it was their own child. Haskins lived in El Paso for most of his life now and locals often told about seeing him in his pick-up truck or at a local bar, but for the most part Haskins did his best to keep the attention off of himself. So this is to remember one of the true coaching legends of college basketball.