Ron Greene

Ronald L. Greene (born 1939) is an American basketball coach who served as head coach of three Division I college basketball teams, as well as teams in Division II, the World Basketball League, the American Basketball Association, and high school.

Ron Greene
Biographical details
Born1939 (age 80)
Terre Haute, Indiana
Playing career
1960–1962Murray State
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1965–1966Loyola (LA) (assistant)
1966–1968Loyola (LA)
1969–1977New Orleans
1977–1978Mississippi State
1978–1985Murray State
1985–1989Indiana State
1991Nashville Stars
1992–1999Calloway County HS
2007–2008Kentucky Retros
2008–2011Murray HS
Head coaching record
Overall317–230
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
AP SEC Coach of the Year (1978)
OVC Coach of the Year, 1980 & 1983
Sugar Bowl HoF (1998)[1]

Early career

Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, Greene was a high school star for the legendary Howard Sharpe at Terre Haute's Gerstmeyer Tech High. He began his college career as a freshmen member of the Bradley Braves; he subsequently transferred to Murray State, completing his eligibility under Head Coach Cal Luther. His coaching career began in 1965 where he was an assistant coach under Head Coach Bill Gardiner. The team went 9-17 in his only season as an assistant before being promoted to the head coach position. He spent two seasons as the Wolfpack, then known as The Park - Ariside, Head Coach before moving across town to assume control of the New Orleans program.

University of New Orleans

Greene was hired by UNO when the school began intercollegiate varsity competition in 1969-70 season. He compiled a 149–64 (.700) record in eight seasons; leading the Privateers to a #1 final ranking for the 1970-71 season and a #2 final ranking for the 1974-75 season. Four of his teams qualified for NCAA tournaments. The Privateers finished fourth in 1974 Division II tourney and second in the 1975 tourney. Greene paved the way for the Privateers’ move to Division I in the 1975–76 season.[2]

Mississippi State University

Greene only spent the 1977–1978 season with the Bulldogs. That year, the Bulldogs finished with an 18-9 record.[3] Several hours after The Associated Press had named him the Southeastern Conference basketball coach of the year and the Mississippi state board had voted him a $7,500 raise, Greene announced he was leaving the job to become coach of his alma mater Murray State.[4]

Murray State University

After managing only 4 wins in his first season in Murray, Greene coached the Racers to 23 wins the following year and an appearance in the National Invitation Tournament. The Racers knocked off Jacksonville and Alabama before losing to Illinois 65-63 in the Quarterfinals.[5] Greene's Racers would reach the NIT twice more before he left in 1985. His overall record at Murray was 119-78. While at the Racer helm, Greene coached Racer greats, such as Gary Hooker and Lamont Sleets.[6]

Indiana State University

Greene returned to his native Terre Haute in 1985 when he became head coach of the Indiana State Sycamores. Greene inherited a young team and finished 11–17 in his first season as head coach.[7] The team, however never matched this success and Greene resigned after an abysmal 4–24 record in the 1988–89 season. His overall record at ISU was 31–79.[8]

One of his players was Eddie Bird, the baby brother of NBA legend Larry Bird.[9]

Later career

Greene was head coach of the Nashville Stars during the 1991 WBL season. The Stars went 23-28 in their first and only season of existence.[10] He resigned in July 1991 to become the 12th head coach at Calloway County High School.[11] His tenure at Calloway County started rough, including a 16-game losing streak in his first season. Greene posted a few good seasons for the Lakers including a 23-6 season as well as two 17-9 seasons, spending 8 years at Calloway.[12] He resigned following the 1999 season and former Murray State and Western Kentucky player Terry Birdsong took over.[13] He returned to coaching in 2007 when he was named head coach of the ABA’s Kentucky Retros.[14] In 2008 Greene was named head coach at Murray High School. He retired after the 2010–11 season.[15]

Head coaching record

College
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Indiana State Sycamores (Missouri Valley) (1985–1989)
1985–86 Indiana State 11–175–117th
1986–87 Indiana State 9–204–10T–7th
1987–88 Indiana State 7–212–128th
1988–89 Indiana State 4–240–148th
Indiana State: 31–8211–47
Total:336–259

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References
  1. https://allstatesugarbowl.org/site266.php
  2. "Ron Greene".
  3. http://www.goracers.com/pdf2/98826.pdf?ATCLID=1329861&SPID=2583&DB_OEM_ID=6700&SPSID=32202
  4. "Sports News Briefs; Kings' Suit Says Nets Owe $25,000 in Archibald Deal People in Sports". The New York Times. 17 March 1978.
  5. http://racerhistory.com/racerbkb1980.htm
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-02-03. Retrieved 2008-01-29.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. . 28 May 1986 http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LH&s_site=kentucky&p_multi=LH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB738B1AD08CE31&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. "In Brief Indiana State's Coach Resigns". 22 February 1989.
  9. http://www.sportsstats.com/jazzyj/greats/cba91/bird.htm
  10. http://members.aol.com/apbrhist/wbl88-92.html
  11. . 19 July 1991 http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LH&s_site=kentucky&p_multi=LH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB73D5A9EF6D3C4&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. . 14 February 1992 http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LH&s_site=kentucky&p_multi=LH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB73DBC30D310BF&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. . 7 May 1999 http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LH&s_site=kentucky&p_multi=LH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB74224605076A6&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. http://www.abalive.com/news/releases/?newsid=2007051506001
  15. Dillard, Tommy (March 24, 2011). "A legend leaves: Greene has no regrets as retirement approaches". Murray Ledger & Times. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
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