Harry Statham facts for kids

Harry Statham (born May 30, 1937) is a famous American former basketball coach. He is known for winning a huge number of games. He coached for 52 seasons at McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois. During his time there, his teams won 1,122 games. This makes him one of the coaches with the most wins in college basketball history. He is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Basketball Hall of Fame.

On March 7, 2012, Harry Statham was chosen as one of the top coaches for the NAIA's 75th Anniversary All-Star Team.

Early Life and Education

Harry Statham was born on May 30, 1937, in Brookport, Illinois. His father passed away when Harry was born. His mother and grandfather, Rufus Dye, raised him. His grandfather taught him the importance of getting a good education.

Harry's mother also wanted him to earn a college degree. He learned that having a good reputation, being honest, and being trustworthy were very important.

Harry Statham graduated from McKendree College in 1960. He then went to the University of Illinois. There, he helped out with the men's basketball and track teams. He earned a Master of Science degree in physical education.

Family Life

Harry Statham is married to Rose Statham. They do not have children. They live in Belleville, Illinois.

Coaching Journey

Harry Statham started his coaching career early. He coached a junior high school team while still in college.

High School Coaching

After college, Statham coached high school basketball. He led the boys' varsity team at Manito Forman High School for two seasons. Then, he coached at Dwight Township High School for three seasons.

Coaching at McKendree University

Harry Statham became the head coach at McKendree University in 1966. He coached the McKendree Bearcats for many years. His teams were very successful.

He led the Bearcats to the post-season playoffs 40 times in 46 seasons. His teams made it to the NAIA national men's basketball championship tournament 15 times. From 1999 to 2004, they went to the tournament five years in a row.

Statham's teams won 20 or more games in 35 different seasons. They averaged almost 23 wins per season.

Developing Players

Coach Statham helped many players succeed. Seventy of his players received special awards after their seasons. Ten of them earned NAIA All-America honors.

He coached three players who later played professionally. These included Paul Funkhouser, Dale Haverman, and Matt Laur. Many of his former players also became successful coaches themselves.

Statham always looked for players who were good people and good students first. He wanted them to be good basketball players too, but that came after being good people and good students.

Coaching Style

Harry Statham believed in playing as a team. He taught his players to work hard and play together. He also focused on teaching them the basic skills of basketball very well.

He was known for being calm on the court. He did not yell at referees or try to bend the rules. He believed in playing the game the right way.

Besides coaching, Statham was also the university's athletic director from 1966 to 2010. He also taught health and human performance classes.

Memorable Seasons

1987–88 Team Success

The 1987–88 Bearcats started their season with 22 wins in a row. They ended up winning 35 games, which was a school record. This team made it to the NAIA Tournament for the first time ever. In one tournament game, McKendree and Huron College scored a combined 231 points. This set a new NAIA Tournament record.

1996–97 Team Reaches Quarterfinals

Statham led the 1996–97 team to the quarterfinal round of the NAIA Tournament. They beat two higher-ranked teams to reach the "Elite Eight." This was their best finish at the national tournament until the 2002–03 season.

2002–03 Team Makes Final Four

The 2002–03 McKendree team had an amazing record of 34 wins and only 4 losses. They won their league without losing a single game. In the 2003 NAIA Division I men's basketball tournament, they won three games to reach the "Final Four." They were ranked No. 1 in the NAIA for the first time. Matt Laur, a player on this team, was named NAIA Player of the Year.

2006–07 and 2007–08 Teams

The 2006–07 team earned a spot in the NAIA National Championship. They won their first game but were eliminated in the second round. The 2007–08 team finished with 27 wins and 7 losses. They also won their first tournament game before being eliminated.

2008–09 Team Wins Conference

The 2008–09 Bearcats won their conference with a perfect record. They finished the season with 30 wins and 6 losses. They made it to the "Elite Eight" in the 2009 NAIA Division I men's basketball tournament.

End of Coaching Career

In March 2018, Harry Statham's time as coach at McKendree University ended. He had coached for 52 seasons. Statham later shared that he did not want to retire at that time. He wanted to finish his career on a winning note.

Amazing Milestones

Harry Statham achieved many incredible milestones during his career:

• On November 15, 2002, he became the NAIA's all-time leader in career victories with his 817th win.
• On December 1, 2004, he passed North Carolina coach Dean Smith for the most wins by any college basketball coach. This was his 880th win.
• On November 25, 2005, he reached 900 wins.
• On November 13, 2009, Harry Statham earned his 1,000th win. This was a huge achievement in college basketball.
• On January 28, 2016, he tied Pat Summitt, a famous women's basketball coach, for the most wins by any college coach at a four-year school. This was his 1,098th win.

Awards and Recognition

Harry Statham received many honors for his coaching:

• He was named the NAIA-Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) Men's Basketball Coach of the Year twelve times.
• In 1987, he was inducted into the IBCA-NAIA Hall of Fame.
• In 1998, he was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame.
• He won the American Midwest Conference Coach of the Year award eight times.
• He was named the NAIA Men's Basketball Coach of the Year for the 2001-02 season.

In 2005, he received the Guardians of the Game Leadership Award from the National Association of Basketball Coaches. He also received the Distinguished Service Award from the United States Sports Academy.

In 2006, the city of Lebanon honored Statham by renaming a road on the McKendree campus "Harry Statham Way." The university's gymnasium, where the Bearcats play, is also named the Harry M. Statham Sports Center in his honor.

See also

• List of college men's basketball career coaching wins leaders