Skip to main content Search this website
Closed Easter Sunday, 3/31
1-877-4-HOOPLA
Mobile navigation toggle icon
Photo of Don Haskins

Donald L. "Don" Haskins

Known as “The Bear” for his robust build and stern manner, Don Haskins always put the best five players on the floor regardless of race, creed, or color. But in 1966, when his all-black starting five Texas Western team won the NCAA national championship against Adolph Rupp’s all-white Kentucky team, Haskins changed college basketball forever. The color barrier in college basketball was to be no more and the credit goes largely to the man who only wanted to win. Haskins coached UTEP for 38 seasons, compiling a 719-353 record, suffering only five losing seasons, and retiring with the fourth best record in history. He managed all this at a small school in the middle of nowhere, molding his teams into contenders. He won seven Western Athletic Conference championships, four WAC tournament titles, had 14 NCAA tournament berths, and made seven trips to the NIT. Haskins led UTEP to seventeen 20-plus win seasons and served as an assistant Olympic team coach in 1972. 

Enshrined

1997

Born

March 14, 1930 Enid, OK

Died

September 07, 2008

College

UTEP/Texas Western

Career Stats

1966 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP
TEXAS WESTERN
38 SEASONS AS COACH
OF UTEP
7x WESTERN ATHLETIC
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
4x WAC TOURNAMENT Champions
14x NCAA TOURNAMENT
APPEARANCES
7x NIT TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES