Sport(s) Basketball | 1947–1950 Central Methodist Name Bob Vanatta Role Basketball Coach | |
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Born July 7, 1918 (age 106) Columbia, Missouri ( 1918-07-07 ) | ||
Bob Vanatta, American basketball coach dies at 98.
Bob Vanatta (July 7, 1918 – October 22, 2016) was an American head basketball coach for Central Methodist, Missouri State University, Army, Bradley, Memphis State, Missouri, and Delta State University. At Missouri State, he won the 1952 and 1953 NAIA Championship. At Memphis State, he compiled a 109-34 record, including making it to the 1957 NIT Championship game. After coaching, he later served as athletic director at Oral Roberts University, commissioner of the Ohio Valley Conference, commissioner of the Atlantic Sun Conference, executive director of the Independence Bowl, athletic director at Louisiana Tech University, commissioner of the Sunshine State Conference, president of the NCAA Division II Conference Commissioner's Association, and associate athletic director at Florida Atlantic University. He was a member of the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, which presents the Lou Groza Award to the nation's top placekicker.
Vanatta died October 22, 2016, aged 98, in Melbourne, Florida.