Robert Moreland (basketball) facts for kids
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 10, 1938 Utica, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | July 29, 2024 (aged 85) |
| Alma mater | Tougaloo |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1962–1963 | Greer HS |
| 1963–1975 | Utica JC |
| 1975–2001 | Texas Southern |
| 2007–2008 | Texas Southern (interim) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 406–377 (.519) |
| Tournaments | 0–3 (NCAA Division I) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
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| Awards | |
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Robert Moreland (born November 10, 1938 – died July 29, 2024) was a famous American college basketball coach. He is best known for coaching the Texas Southern Tigers team. Coach Moreland led the Tigers for many years, from 1975 to 2001. He even came back for a short time in 2007–08.
Moreland holds the record for the most wins as a coach in Tigers history, with an amazing 406 victories! He guided his team to a big win, an NAIA championship, in 1977. He was also named the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Coach of the Year five times, showing how great he was at his job.
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Who Was Robert Moreland?
Robert Moreland was born in Utica, Mississippi. He went to Hinds County Agricultural High School and then Utica Junior College. He was a talented athlete and earned a scholarship to Tougaloo College. There, he played basketball, football, and even ran track and field. He graduated from Tougaloo in 1962.
How Did Coach Moreland Start His Career?
Coach Moreland began his coaching journey at Greer High School in Carthage, Mississippi. This was during the 1962–63 school year. After that, he became the head coach for the basketball team at Utica Junior College. He coached there for a long time, from 1963 to 1975.
Coaching the Texas Southern Tigers
In 1975, Robert Moreland became the head coach of the Texas Southern Tigers. The athletic director, Rod Paige, chose him for the role. Interestingly, Paige had first met Moreland when Moreland was a high school student. Coach Moreland led the Tigers to the NCAA tournament three times. These big tournament appearances were in 1990, 1994, and 1995.
Later Years and Legacy
Coach Moreland stopped being the head coach for the Tigers in 2001. However, he continued to work as a professor at Texas Southern University. In 2007, he agreed to return as an interim (temporary) head coach for one more season. This was for the 2007–08 season. He finished his coaching career with a record of 7 wins and 25 losses that year.
What Honors Did Coach Moreland Receive?
To honor his amazing career, the basketball court at the Health and Physical Education Arena was renamed after Coach Moreland. He was also inducted into the SWAC Hall of Fame in 2007. In 2024, he was added to the Texas Southern University Sports Hall of Fame.
Robert Moreland passed away on July 29, 2024.
